[Greens-Media] Donations culture not journalists threaten government*s integrity

[Lee Rhiannon]

Greens MP Lee Rhiannon - Media Release 27 February 2007

Donations culture not journalists threaten government*s integrity

Greens MP Lee Rhiannon today said the Greens would support the
National*s call for a wide-ranging Royal Commission into donations and
said Premier Iemma*s attack on journalists was a sign of his
government*s desperation.  

*For many years the Greens have called for a far-reaching inquiry
into the potential of donations to corrupt the political process. Today
the Nationals have come on board and we welcome the party*s
support,* Ms Rhiannon said.

*Premier Iemma is clearly under intense pressure. It is not
journalists who are blackening the reputation of the Iemma government
but the Labor Party*s culture of donations driven politics.
 
*A Royal Commission, with broad terms of reference, should inquire
into the whole culture of donations in NSW, including whether donations
have influenced particular planning decisions of current and previous
ministers.

*The Royal Commission should look at donations to all political
parties, not just the NSW ALP, because as we know donations flow in all
directions.

*Given the way the current donations inquiry was set up by Labor, the
public is entitled to be sceptical as to whether it will be sufficiently
wide-ranging and rigorous.

*Premier Iemma needs to understand that if it looks or smells like
influence peddling then the public is entitled to know if it is
influence peddling,* Ms Rhiannon said. 

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


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Lee Rhiannon, MLC
The Greens
Parliament of New South Wales
Macquarie St 
Sydney 2000
Tel: +61-2-9230 3551 Fax: +61-2-9230 3550
Email lee.rhiannon at parliament.nsw.gov.au
Web http://www.lee.greens.org.au/

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