[Greens-Media] Developer donation embarrassment for Keneally

[Lee Rhiannon]

MEDIA RELEASE

30 September 2010





Developer donation embarrassment for Keneally



NSW ALP documents lodged with the NSW Election Funding Authority reveal that
Labor have accepted a donation from a company controlled by a developer
which may break their own law that bans developer donations, Lee Rhiannon
Greens NSW Senator-elect said.



The document shows that Shepherds Bay Pty Ltd donated $75,000 to NSW Labor
on June 28. a director of Shepherds Bay Pty Ltd owns a company called
Billbergia, which has major development projects at Rhodes and Sydney
Olympic Park.



“The revelation that Labor may have flouted its own law banning developer
donations highlights the need for more thorough electoral funding reform
that bans donations from all corporations and other organisations,” Ms
Rhiannon said.



“The changes should be in place this year well before the 2011 state
election.

* *

“NSW Labor's head office may argue that they were unaware that Shepherds Bay
Pty Ltd has links to a developer company according to the definition used in
the NSW law that bans developer donations. They may argue that the legal
definition of ‘property developer’ does not cover this situation.



“Whatever their excuse Labor has failed to abide by its own laws on
political donations.



“This revelation is a set back for Premier Kristina Keneally. She has
recently foreshadowed further electoral funding reform legislation.



“If Labor during Ms Keneally’s time as Premier has failed to abide by its
own laws on political donations its credibility will be further damaged.



“The Premier should move quickly to clean up this mess. The public are owed
a full explanation of why this donation was accepted.



“The law banning developer donations was brought in by former premier Nathan
Rees in the wake of the Wollongong developer scandals,” Ms Rhiannon said.




For more information – 0427 861 568

-- 
Lee Rhiannon
Greens NSW Senator elect
19 Eve Street, Erskineville
0427 861 568

leerhiannon.org.au <http://greens.org.au/leerhiannon>