[Greens-Media] Tas Greens_Lobbyist Register Small Step Forward_N McKim MP

[greens at parliament.tas.gov.au]

LOBBYIST REGISTER WELCOME BUT IS ONLY A SMALL STEP FORWARD

Political Donations Reform Critical

Nick McKim MP
Greens Leader

Saturday, 15 August 2009
Contact: State Parliamentary Offices of the Tasmanian Greens, (03) 6233
8300

www.tas.greens.org.au


The Tasmanian Greens today welcomed today's announcement of a Register
of Lobbyists, but warned that it was a small step on the road towards
full government transparency.

Greens Leader Nick McKim MP said that if Labor is serious about
restoring public trust in governance it must introduce a cap on
political donations along with state donation disclosure laws.

"We're happy to applaud Labor's baby steps, but meaningful progress
relies on capping political donations and making sure that when
Tasmanians go to the ballot box next year they know who is donating, how
much, and to whom," Mr McKim said.

"It beggars belief that after a decade of Labor government Tasmanians
face the spectre of voting in 2010 while being deliberately kept in the
dark about political donations. It is a blight on our democracy."  

"We have long advocated a Lobbyist Register as part of a broader
package, but now is the time to deliver a meaningful reform package that
includes an immediate cap on political donations and the implementation
of state political donations laws."  

"People have a right to know who is lobbying who in the political arena,
but they also deserve to have political donations fully disclosed before
they go to the ballot box, which is not currently the case in Tasmania."

Mr McKim also said that two years ago the Greens introduced their
Post-Ministerial Probity Bill 2007, to Parliament which sought to
restrict Government Ministers who retire from moving directly onto
company boards or acting as lobbyists for companies with which they had
significant dealings when a Minister, until at least two years have
expired after their retirement.  

"The Bartlett government's announcement shows that while they recognise
this significant probity issue, they are still not prepared to implement
safeguards as rigorous as those suggested by the Greens."




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