MORE INTEGRITY IN GOVERNMENT
Corporate lobbyists have too much influence over our politicians
Politicians and staffers are supposed to work for us, but too often they’re more interested in their own careers, or the interests of the powerful corporate lobbyists that have access to them.
Most of the time the public aren’t even allowed to know who politicians are meeting.
A lack of any real rules or consequences allow MPs, ministers and their senior staff to get away with behaviour that wouldn’t be tolerated outside of the political bubble.
The Greens have a Bill ready to go that will:
- Establish an Independent Parliamentary Integrity Commissioner with real powers to sanction MPs and public officials who create an unsafe workplace, act disrespectfully, or fail to work in the public’s best interests.
- Strengthen ‘revolving door’ rules, and prevent ministers and staffers moving straight into lobbying or related private sector roles.
- Require all ministers and the Premier to proactively disclose their diaries and meetings.
END DODGY PREFERENCE DEALS
Voters, not big money, should power elections
It’s almost impossible to believe, but cashed up candidates in Victoria who’ve received less than 1% of the vote have landed seats in our upper house. How? By paying huge sums of money to trade votes with other micro-parties.
Only Victoria has a system that allows money and backroom deals to elect politicians, rather than voters. That’s because Victoria is the only state that won’t allow voters to write their preferences above the line.
Meanwhile elections have become ‘anything goes’ affairs, with politicians spending millions to spread lies on social media, because we don’t have truth in advertising laws.
The Greens will make elections a genuine contest of ideas that are ultimately determined by empowered voters.
The Greens plan includes:
- Put the power to elect MPs back in the hands of voters by banning dodgy preference deals and by allowing voters to number preferences above the line.
- Introduce Truth in Political Advertising laws like South Australia.
- Introduce campaign spending caps for parties and candidates.
TRULY INDEPENDENT ANTI-CORRUPTION AGENCIES
Politicians shouldn’t control the funding of anti-corruption agencies. It’s a conflict of interest
Victoria has three integrity agencies: The Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commission (IBAC), the Ombudsman, and the Auditor-General.
All of these agencies have recently investigated the actions of government members or its departments. And all of them say the government has underfunded them.
To be truly independent and have the proper resources to investigate politicians, funding for integrity agencies must be decided at arms-length from government.
The Greens plan includes:
- Create an independent tribunal to determine funding for anti-corruption agencies, taking these decisions away from government.
- Broaden IBAC’s powers to fight corruption, including widening its jurisdiction to investigate potentially corrupt behaviour.
HOW WE'LL PAY FOR OUR POLICIES
- Making big corporations pay their fair share
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The Greens will make the big banks, property developers and the gambling industry pay their fair share of tax so we can invest in climate action, affordable housing and public services for all.
Our plans will also be paid for by spending smarter and making our state borrowings work for the community.
Together, we’re powerful.
With more Greens in parliament, we can tackle the climate crisis, make housing affordable and hold the major parties to account. Your vote is powerful.