[Greens-Media] Labor takes big donations from hotel industry while pubs ignore smoking rules

[Susie Gemmell]

MEDIA RELEASE
15 September 2006

Labor takes big donations from hotel industry while pubs ignore smoking rules 


Greens MP Lee Rhiannon expressed concern that the Labor Party is accepting huge donations from the hotel industry and at the same time is allowing hotels to flout government smoking bans.

“Hotels in NSW have donated more than $2.2 million over the six years since 1998 to the NSW Labor Party and the Australian Hotels Association, $525,000," Ms Rhiannon said.

"Donations from hotels to NSW Labor spiked in the lead up to the 2003 state elections, reaching $1,536,000*.

"Planning Minister, Frank Sartor, has failed to act in the public interest. All hotels should have complied with the bans from the day they were introduced.

"We are left with the impression that these massive donations from the hotel industry gives it a major say on government policy.

"When the alcohol industry hands over millions of dollars to the Labor Party and then the government goes soft on enforcing smoking bans in pubs the word 'bribe' does spring to mind. 

"These donations are a relatively cheap investment for this industry. Once again it looks like the government has been captured by the alcohol industry," said Ms Rhiannon.


* as declared to the State Electoral Office.


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More information:  9230 3551 or 0427 861 568


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Susie Gemmell
Adviser, Greens MLC Lee Rhiannon (p/t Mon, Thur, Fri)
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