[Greens-Media] Media Release: The Greens plan to tackle shadowy political donors

[Greens Victoria Media]

Media Release: for immediate use
Wednesday September 20, 2006
Contact: Greg Barber on (mob) 0433 044 771

The Greens plan to tackle shadowy political donors

Lobby groups that disguise their political campaigning and support for 
big politics must be held accountable for their influence peddling say 
the Greens.

Greg Barber, Upper House candidate and Governance and Accountability 
spokesperson, has called for the introduction of a system of 'continuous 
disclosure' of donations to parties and politicians and for third party 
campaign spending.

"In the light of the meetings going on between the Exclusive Brethren 
and some political parties, it is essential that voters are aware of any 
spending on political campaigns by any groups," said Greg Barber.

"However, we will not know until the end of February in 2008 who has 
made donations to political parties in the run up to this state 
election," said Greg Barber. "This is a year and a half away, but it's 
only then that the Commonwealth electoral returns will published for the 
current financial year."

"Even then we may not learn that much, because a group, or group of 
individuals acting together, could donate $10,000 each (under the new 
Commonwealth disclosure limit) to every state branch of a political 
party," said Greg Barber. "They could hide hundreds of thousands of 
dollars in donations this way."

"The Greens want to see more rigorous disclosure obligations associated 
with Victorian elections and Victorian political parties, their 
associated entities and third parties," said Greg Barber. "At the moment 
it is absolutely minimal under Victorian law and most disclosure occurs 
under Commonwealth law associated with federally registered political 
parties."

"Our policy is to implement the UK model of continuous disclosure in 
Victoria," said Greg Barber. "This involves quarterly donation returns 
by political parties, increasing to weekly during the election itself. 
Also, third parties who carry out election spending need to register and 
disclose once they reach a certain threshold of spending."

"The disclosure limit for a donation to a political party registered in 
a Victorian election should be $1500 as it was under the old rules," 
said Greg Barber.

For more information and comment please contact
Greg Barber on (mob) 0433 044 771
or Dave Lane on (mob) 0419 156 213

Background: follows next page.
Background:

UK Disclosure Rules*
The Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 was introduced 
to combat perceptions of corruption. Labour was caught up in scandal in 
1997 where it banned tobacco advertising in sport but granted an 
exemption to Formula 1. The head of Formula one had donated 1 million 
pounds to the party not long before the exemption decision was made.

Under the new Act parties report donations of £5,000 and up to the 
Electoral Commission quarterly, and weekly during elections.

References:
International comparisons of regulations governing political parties and 
disclosure: http://www.idea.int/parties/finance/db/

Funding and disclosure handbooks associated with the AEC:
http://www.aec.gov.au/_content/how/political_disclosures/index.htm#forms

Relevant sections of the Commonwealth Act:
http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/cea1918233/s308.html

UK electoral commission site - "Donations to candidates" and "Third 
parties" expenditure:
http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/about-us/factsheetspub.cfm
http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/about-us/guidpolpart.cfm

UK legislation:
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/ACTS/acts2000/20000041.htm

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