[Greens-Media] (Sylvia Hale MLC) South Coast Developers Increase Donations to the ALP

[Christopher Holley]

Controversial South Coast Developers Increase Donations to the ALP

Figures released by the Australian Electoral Office reveal that Babcock
and Brown, the developer that has been given government approval to
develop a 200-room resort in the Killalea State Park tripled its
donations to the NSW Labor Party last year to $103,000. 

Stockland, the developer behind controversial projects at Sandon Point
and Vincentia, both approved by the state Labor government despite
widespread local opposition, doubled its annual donation to the NSW
Labor party to $39,250.

Babcock and Brown has been a long-term donor to both the Labor and
Liberal parties but in 2006-7 it substantially increased its donations
to the NSW Labor Party from $33,000 in 2006-06 to $103,000 in 2006-07.
Its donation to the NSW Liberal Party in 2006-07 was $11,000.

“These figures show that at the same time that it was negotiating a
controversial agreement with the government to build a resort in a state
park Babcock and Brown was making significant additional donations to
the NSW Labor Party,” said Sylvia Hale, NSW Greens MP.

“The Electoral Office figures reveal that in June 2006, in the same
month that the Minister for Lands met a delegation from the community
protesting against the Killalea development Babcock donated an
additional $30,000 to the NSW Labor Party.”  

“The Labor Party will no doubt claim that this is just a coincidence
but do they really expect people to believe that?” asked Ms Hale.

“The people of the south coast have every right to question whose
interest the government has in mind when it makes decisions like
these,” said Ms Hale. 

The Greens are calling for a ban on all political donations from
developers. 

“Public confidence in the state planning system has been completely
undermined by the millions of dollars in donations from developers
flowing into the coffers of the NSW Labor Party.” 

“It has to stop. The public has the right to be confident that
planning and development decisions are made on the basis of what is best
for the community, not who gave the largest political donation,” said
Ms Hale.

Further information: Chris Holley 02 9230 3030 / 0437 779 546