ASH Australia media release                                       March 3, 2008

Inquiry told: time to reform political donations

Call to limit private funding, increase transparency

 

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A NSW parliamentary inquiry into political donations has been told reform of electoral funding is overdue and essential for equality of public access to government.

The Legislative Council inquiry on its first day of public hearings today (March 3) has heard concerns that policy decisions in the public interest, based on independent evidence and community support, have been frustrated, delayed or weakened after influence by large donors.

Anne Jones, Chief Executive of Health promotion charity Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) Australia, has told the inquiry:

“We believe tobacco-related and tobacco-friendly commercial interests have had an undue influence upon some government decisions, at both an economic and health cost to governments, businesses and communities.

“In NSW, we’ve seen smokefree licensed venues laws delayed, watered down and undermined. This has been an example where questions must be asked about undue influence of the gambling lobby on decisions where public health and work safety considerations should have been paramount, but where instead issues of gambling revenue appear to have won out.”

ASH has put forward a ten-point plan for reform including:

  • Measures to increase transparency in the source of donations, including prompt and transparent audited reports and full disclosure of fundraising committee sources.
  • Either a total ban or at least limits on political donations from organisations, including corporations and trade unions; and a total ban on donations from foreign or trans-national entities.
  • Capped donations from all individual donors per year.
  • Caps on total electoral spending by all parties and candidates; and tighter controls over “independent” campaign spending by the supporters of political parties and candidates.
  • Increased penalties and enforcement funding.
  • Political donations no longer tax deductible – as proposed by the Assistant Federal Treasurer.

“We also need a national response,” says Anne Jones, “and this is an opportunity for Prime Minister Rudd to create a fairer, more accountable political funding system for the whole of Australia.” 

See  ASH written submission to NSW inquiry 

Comment:    Anne Jones, CEO, ASH Australia    m. 0417-227-879

Media info:   Stafford Sanders, ASH Australia     ph. (02) 9334-1823;  m. 0412-070-194

 

 

Page last updated 4/3/08