[Greens-Media] A moveable feast: Carr can run but he can't hide

[Susie Gemmell]

MEDIA RELEASE
1 March 2005

A moveable feast: Carr can run but he can't hide

Greens MP Lee Rhiannon today called on the Premier to disclose who came
to his $5,000 a head "intimate dinner" last night.

The dinner was promoted at the swank Aria restaurant at East Circular
Quay, but Carr moved his fundraising feast at the 11th hour to avoid
public scrutiny from The Greens and community activists.

"The Premier can run but he can't hide.  The Greens will continue
to expose the grubby pall that donations have put on the Labor and
Coalition parties," said Ms Rhiannon.

"In 11 months the Australian Electoral Commission will release
details of who the donors were and how much money they donated to this
ALP fund raiser. So it is not too much to expect the Premier to come
clean now.

"The Premier has spoken of the need to reform the political donations
system so he should be true to his word and be up front with people who
can't afford $5000 to bend his ear over dinner.

"The idea that developers and big business can buy the Premier's
ear is on the nose with the public.
"While the ALP and the Coalition parties are receiving donations from
developers they can't be trusted to stand up for community interests.

"The Greens campaign to clean up donations is about making the
electoral funding system more open and transparent.

"The Greens clean up corporate donations campaign is gaining
traction. NSW ALP gave back the donations they received from James
Hardie and stopped taking money from tobacco companies," said Ms
Rhiannon.

Contact:  Alison Orme - 0408 976 707 



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Susie Gemmell
Policy Adviser
Greens MLC Lee Rhiannon
Macquarie St, Sydney 2000
Tel: +61-2-9230 3551 Fax: +61-2-9230 3550
Mobile:  0431 458 102
Email   susie.gemmell at parliament.nsw.gov.au
Web    www.leerhiannon.org.au