[Greens-Media] Iemma’s reform of donation laws must run deep

[Alison Orme]

Greens MP Lee Rhiannon NSW Parliament  22 February 2007

Iemma’s reform of donation laws must run deep

NSW Greens MP Lee Rhiannon has welcomed Premier Morris Iemma’s
announcement to reform NSW’s donations laws and urged him to act
quickly to help restore public confidence in his government damaged by a
string of donations scandals. 

“Mr Iemma’s fine words about reining in donations will end up
another hollow promise if the Premier does not move to ban donations
from developers,” Ms Rhiannon said.
 
“I have asked the NSW Upper House Inquiry into political donations to
call Mr Iemma as a witness so the Premier can outline his plan for
donation reform in detail. 

“The government is in a deep hole and Premier Iemma must
substantially reform the donations system in NSW to restore public
confidence, not just tinker around the edges.

“The Iemma government has delivered many promises in times of strife
that are broken once the heat is off.

“In the same breath as Mr Iemma committed himself to donations reform
he today placed limits on the gesture by highlighting what he sees are
the difficulties of reforming the NSW system without leaving developers
to deliver donations through other channels. 

“This is an excuse he and former Premier Bob Carr have long used to
dodge responsibility for much needed donations reform.

“The donations inquiry in NSW Parliament is set to commence public
hearings on March 3. This inquiry provides the perfect opportunity for
Premier Iemma to gather expert advice on how to substantially reform
donations laws and listen to public concerns.

“The Greens’ submission to the donations inquiry recommends a ban
on donations from companies and other organisations.

“Greens’ recommendations include caps on electoral spending,
greater transparency of the donation process, public funding for local
government elections and a National Summit on political funding. 

“Premier Iemma must to do a massive clean up job on donations, or the
public will continue to view his government as accepting dirty money at
their expense,” Ms Rhiannon said. 

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


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