[Greens-Media] Tabak money reveals Liberal duplicity on donations

[Lee Rhiannon]

Media Release 
22 February 2007


Tabak money reveals Liberal duplicity on donations

The NSW Coalition is now caught in the same Wollongong developer
donations scandal that is ripping apart the NSW government. Unhealthy
ties to big property companies reach into both major parties Greens MP
Lee Rhiannon said today.

*Opposition leader Barry O*Farrell and Premier Morris Iemma walk
hand in hand by accepting developer donations from Tabak*s company
Wideform,* Ms Rhiannon said. 

*Mr O*Farrell has claimed that the NSW government is running the
state like a family business for its own benefit. 

*The reality is the opposition leader would like to take a seat at
the head of this family table. 
 
*According to the NSW Election Funding Authority data the NSW Liberal
Party received $10,750 from Wideform Pty Ltd in the lead up to the 2007
election. 

*A number of Labor MPs including Police Minister David Campbell and
the NSW Labor Party received $15,750.

*It is hypocritical of the Opposition Leader to claim the high moral
ground on donations from Illawarra developers when he has their cash in
his pocket.

*The major parties in NSW are far too close to rich and powerful
developers. 

*For too long Labor and the Coalition have voted together to weaken
the planning laws in this state and to block attempts to clean up
political donations. 

*Mr Iemma and Mr O*Farrell need to change their policies and
support a ban on political donations to make a first but significant
step to cleaning up politics in NSW,* Ms Rhiannon said. 



For more information: 9230 3551, 0427 861 568
Visit the Greens donations project at www.democracy4sale.org