[Greens-Media] End secret donations now

[Manderson, Roland]

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ACT GREENS MLA DEB FOSKEY MEDIA RELEASE
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14 April 08



End secret donations now

When the ACT Government Electoral Legislation Amendment Bill is debated
in May, Greens MLA Deb Foskey will seek support from Labor and Liberal
MLAs to ensure voters know who is giving money to political parties
before, rather than after, the election. 

"I have amendments drafted to introduce the weekly reporting of
donations received during an election period" Dr Foskey said today.

"And to bring the timeframe for annual reports forward from February to
September so that the information in those reports is published by
Elections ACT before the October election."

"There's been a lot of talk across Australia about putting a cap on
donations, or even getting rid of them altogether.  The Greens are keen
to look at those ideas, but a reshape of electoral funding - if it's
really to strengthen democracy - will take a few years and quite a lot
of research."

"In the meantime we face an ACT election on October 18."

"My amendments would ensure that ACT voters would know who has made
donations to political candidates and their parties in the lead up to
this election."

"I would like to know if ACT Labor and Liberal parties will be
supporting these amendments and, where they are unlikely to, what their
concerns are."

 "Voters across Australia are suspicious political donations and what
impact they have, and there is a lot of talk about doing things
differently.  Making donations more transparent is a good first step" Dr
Foskey said. 

Dr Foskey's amendments to the Electoral Legislation Amendment Bill would
also:

*	Require property developers to disclose recent political
donations they have made every time they put in a development
application.  
*	Make it easier for voters to tell who is responsible for
brochures and advertisements
*	Return to the 6 metre rule so that handing out how to vote
advice at polling booths are the same as they are for federal elections
*	Require the Electoral Commissioner to report on all complaints
made regarding the conduct of an election. 

The ACT Government and Opposition have had the Greens amendments and
explanatory notes, and a letter from Dr Foskey seeking their support,
for some weeks.


ACT   Greens    MLA  Deb  Foskey  
Legislative Assembly for the ACT 
ph(02)62050551      m 0412241379
==== www.act.greens.org.au ===== 
  
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