Media Release - 13 January 2009
Political donation crisis amplifies as Labor abandons national reform agenda
The crisis in Australia's electoral funding and disclosure system is set to worsen now that the Rudd government has abandoned passing reform legislation before the next election predicted NSW Greens MP and donations spokesperson Lee Rhiannon today. (http://bit.ly/8wDOLf)
"Labor's betrayal on campaign finance reform will only amplify the political donation crisis that is undermining Australian politics," said Ms Rhiannon.
"Special Minister of State Joe Ludwig has failed to follow through on the clear commitment of his predecessor John Faulkner that the reforms would be passed before the coming federal election.
"The public is deeply concerned about the corrupting influence that corporate donations have had on our system of democracy, and they expect change.
"Without promised reform, donation scandals will continue to rock the major parties during this federal election year.
"It is frustrating that the Rudd government has backtracked as state governments are struggling to undertake reform without a federal framework.
"Prime Minister Kevin Rudd should be driving the reform process to stem the flow of corporate money that has been so damaging to his party and the wider democratic process.
"It's not too late to resurrect Senator Faulkner's strong vision for donations reform articulated in the government's first electoral reform green paper.
"The Coalition are also implicated in the derailing of the electoral funding reform plans.
"Opposition leader Tony Abbott and his NSW counterpart Barry O'Farrell are focussed on corporate fundraising for their respective election campaigns, not donations reform.
"In NSW alone the major parties have accepted $130 million in donations during the past 10 years. The major parties' federal divisions have accepted over $140 million.
"The culture of money politics has caused the public to become deeply cynical and lose confidence in our political process.
"The major parties should be working together to keep the reform process on track," said Ms Rhiannon.
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