[Greens-Media] MARK PARNELL MLC: Greens launch SA political donations website

[Parnell]

Media Release
Tuesday 18th August 2009

Greens launch SA political donations website


The Greens have today launched a new website that will make it much easier to find out information on donations to SA political parties.

Extending the work of the long-running NSW Greens website www.democracy4sale.org <http://www.democracy4sale.org/> , the new SA webpage and database takes the official data released by the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) and makes it much easier to search, sort and total up donations by the same company.

"This website will help shine a light on the murky world of political donations in SA," said Greens MLC Mark Parnell.

"It shouldn't have to take someone hours of painstaking research to get basic information on political donations.

"For far too long, any South Australian who has wanted to find out who is donating to which political parties has come up against a system that is difficult to navigate and hides shady practices.

"Once all the donations and gifts from all company subsidiaries over a number of years are added up, it quickly becomes apparent that both Labor and Liberal are highly dependant on big donations to fund their election campaigns.

"This is extremely dangerous for our democracy.  We urgently need much greater transparency and accountability by all political parties in how and when they disclose where they get their money from," he said.

When Parliament resumes in September, the Greens will be introducing major amendments to the Electoral Act to cap individual donations and ban corporate donations altogether, as well as increase disclosure.

"SA has the worst political donations laws in the country.  We urgently need more checks and balances in the system, because right now when it comes to dodgy fundraising practices by political parties in SA it's anything goes," he said.


To access the new website, go to www.democracy4sale.org <http://www.democracy4sale.org/>  and click on the 'South Australia' tab.


For further comment contact Craig Wilkins on 0434 007 893



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