[Greens-Media] Greens call on major parties to ban developer donations

[Susie Gemmell]

Media Release
25 February 2008

Greens call on major parties to ban developer donations
 
 
NSW Greens MP Lee Rhiannon today challenged the opposition leader Barry
O’Farrell to include a ban on all property developer donations to
political parties in new legislation his party will introduce into state
parliament this week, and for Premier Iemma to support it. 
 
“The Greens will support the opposition’s legislation but it needs
to include a ban on developer donations to satisfy the public desire to
stamp out corruption in state and local government planning,” said Ms
Rhiannon.
 
“The Greens urge Premier Iemma to support the Coalition’s Bill and
a total ban on developer donations to add substance to his recent
promises to take action on donations reform.
 
“For a donations bill to curb the corrupting influence of political
donations, it must include a total ban on developer donations to
Ministers, Councillors, candidates and political parties. 
 
“Mr O’Farrell is critical of Labor’s donations culture, but in
NSW the Liberals accepted over $40,774,708 in political donations during
the past 9 years, including $8,219,461 from property developers.
 
“The potential for corruption threatens both major parties in equal
measure.
 
“The Greens also challenge Premier Iemma and Mr O’Farrell to
handover all donations received from Mr Glen Tabak, discredited
Wollongong property developer, to local charities in Wollongong.
 
“The NSW Election Funding Authority data shows that the NSW Liberals
accepted five donations totally $10,750.  NSW Labor accepted four
donations from Wideform totally $15,750.
 
“It would be wrong to hand this money back to Mr Tabak. 
 
“Wollongong charities like the Baptist Community Service Centre for
Prostitutes and the Wesley Church on the Mall could benefit more from a
cut of the $26,000 that Labor and the Liberals took in donations from Mr
Tabak’s company Wideform,” Ms Rhiannon said. 
 
 
For more information:  9230 3551, 0427 861 568
Visit the Greens donations project at www.democracy4sale.org


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Susie Gemmell
Adviser, Greens MLC Lee Rhiannon (p/t Mon-Wed)
Macquarie St, Sydney 2000
Tel: +61-2-9230 3551 Fax: +61-2-9230 3550
Mobile: 0431 458 102
Email susie.gemmell at parliament.nsw.gov.au
Web www.leerhiannon.org.au