[Greens-Media] AHA donation freeze – pressure now on Iemma to fast track political funding reform

[Lee Rhiannon]

Media Release
25 April 2008

AHA donation freeze – pressure now on Iemma to fast track political funding reform

Greens MP Lee Rhiannon has welcomed the decision of the Australian Hotels Association to freeze all political donations and called on Premier Morris Iemma to fastrack political funding reform. 

“The Greens congratulate the AHA on doing the right thing. Their decision sends a clear message to other big donors and the federal and state governments that its time to clean up political donations,” Ms Rhiannon said. 

“The Greens are hopeful that the AHA freeze will be copied by hotel owners. In the lead up to the 2007 state election individual hotels made more than 400 separate donations to the Labor and Coalition parties. 

"The hotels industry donated $1.7 million to the government and over $1 million to the coalition between 2003-2007. Of this $2.7 million, $1.8 million came directly from the hotels lobby group, the Australian Hotels Association (AHA).

"The AHA is giving a lead in this important area. Their action signals a significant change in the culture of political funding.

“The AHA decision puts more pressure on Premier Morris Iemma to not only follow through and introduce the necessary legislation to reform political funding but also to speed up the process.

‘In the period that the hotel industry have been so financially generous to the major parties there has been significant legislation passed by the NSW parliament that has helped individual hotels boost their profits. 

“The Coalition has consistently voted with Labor to pass laws that have allowed hotels to have more pokies, extend their opening hours, and win exemptions to shut down periods for gambling.

“There certainly is a public perception that the current donation regime is having a corrupting influence on the democratic process,” Ms Rhiannon said. 


For more information:	Lee Rhiannon 0427 861 568