2019-02-22
Over the past six years, the two major parties have accepted more than $100 million in political donations from big corporations. That means they’re beholden to the interests of the big banks and mining companies, not what’s best for all Australians – and enough is enough.
By Senator Larissa Waters
At the start of February, we launched our policy to clean up politics and end the corrupting influence of big money on our democracy, so we can create a future for all of us.
Over the past six years, the Liberals and Labor have taken more than $100 million in political donations from big corporations like mining and gambling companies, the big banks and wealthy property developers.
The return on investment for donors is that they get one-on-one access to government ministers – and decisions that protect their corporate profits. Then some of those pollies get cushy lobbyist jobs when they retire.
It’s no wonder that 85 percent of Australians believe most politicians are corrupt.
The major parties make decisions that prioritise the profits of their big donors. The rest of us are left with cuts to health, education and social services, rising costs of housing and energy bills, and a growing gap between rich and poor.
Our plan would break the stranglehold corporations have on our democracy and restore integrity to politics, by:
- banning political donations from mining, property development, tobacco, alcohol, gambling, banking, defence and pharmaceutical industries;
- putting a cap on all other donations of $1000 a year;
- until those bans and caps are in place, making sure every donation over $1000 is listed publicly and disclosed in close to real-time;
- banning donations splitting and all donations from foreign entities;
- stopping all MPs from accepting lobbying jobs for five years after they retire, where a conflict of interest may arise;
- requiring politicians to tell the public when and why they meet with lobbyists;
- establishing a strong, independent federal anti-corruption commission to investigate politicians and governments; and
- protecting the rights of citizens and community groups to speak out, ensuring all of us are represented and able to participate in our democracy.
Check out our launch video here:
Until we get transparency into the system and big money out of politics, we won’t get the decisions that improve people’s everyday lives.
Unlike the major parties, the Greens refuse to take donations from big corporations and lobbyists who want to influence our decisions. We can’t be bought and we won’t sell out.
We’ll be campaigning strongly on this policy as the election approaches, and will keep working in Parliament before and after the election to deliver reforms.
People want their democracy back, and they deserve it. Money shouldn’t buy access or outcomes. Our democracy is not for sale.
Larissa Waters holds the newly created Greens portfolio for Democracy.