[Greens-Media] Howard pockets donations for influence at tonight's Sydney fundraiser

[Alison Orme]

Media Release - 1 June 2007

Howard pockets donations for influence at tonight's Sydney fundraiser 

Greens MP and donations spokesperson Lee Rhiannon has called on Prime
Minister John Howard, who is hosting a rumoured $1,000 a head Liberal
fundraising dinner in Sydney tonight, to immediately make public
donations his party receives in the lead up to the federal election.

"Voters have the right to see who is using such occasions to buy
influence, before they cast their vote at the ballot box,” Ms Rhiannon
said.

"Australia is lagging behind other democracies, for example the UK
where parties must submit quarterly donation returns, increasing to
weekly during an election period. 

"Business leaders are not spending a $1,000 a head to take a seat at
Howard's table just for the company.

"This fundraiser at a swanky Sydney hotel is a clear case of access
buying and cheque-book democracy.

"The big end of town knows $1,000 buys the opportunity to bend an ear
and negotiate deals. In return Howard receives thousands of dollars for
his election war chest. 

"The Federal Coalition amended donations laws so that from December
2005 only the source of donations above $10,000 must be disclosed. The
former threshold was $1,500. 

"With this new threshold it is estimated that 40 percent of donations
to political parties will remain undisclosed, according to an analysis
of previous years’ Australian Electoral Commission data.

"While countries like Canada, New Zealand and Britain have acted to ban
or limit political donations, the Howard government is moving us in the
opposite direction.

"The Greens NSW are calling on the major parties to adopt its policy of
continuous disclosure of donations. 

"In the 2007 NSW election Greens candidates made all donations over
$200 public on the Greens website within 7 days of receiving them.

"Under the present system of political donations democracy has been put
up for sale," Ms Rhiannon said.

Contact: Lee Rhiannon 9230 3551, 0427 861 568. 


Alison Orme
Adviser, Greens MLC Lee Rhiannon (p/t Wed-Fri)
Macquarie St, Sydney 2000
Tel: +61-2-9230 3551 Fax: +61-2-9230 3550
Mobile: 0432 332 104
Email alison.orme at parliament.nsw.gov.au 
Web www.leerhiannon.org.au