[Greens-Media] O'Farrell government gags debate on election funding

[Jamie Parker]

O'Farrell government gags debate on election funding

Greens MP Jamie Parker has today criticised the O'Farrell government for gagging debate on its Election Funding, Expenditure and Disclosures Amendment Bill.
 
"The government today closed the debate and prevented several members, including myself, from debating this important reform," said Mr Parker. 
 
"This gag undermines the government's claim of being committed to transparency.
 
"The Greens NSW have campaigned for more than a decade to end all corporate donations to political parties.
 
"There is much to support in Premier Barry O'Farrell's new election funding bill banning corporate donations and we welcome many of the provisions. Indeed, the legislation enacts a core Greens NSW policy. 
 
"However in his enthusiasm to undermine the Labor party and the union movement, the Premier has made aspects of the legislation unworkable and damaging to democracy.
 
"The legislation has a number of consequences for membership-based organisations and their peak bodies that will restrict their ability to engage in issues-based campaigning. 
 
"We Greens will be moving amendments in the Upper House that seek to resolve these flaws and to increase the chances of the bill surviving a constitutional challenge. We hope these issues can be more robustly debated in the upper house and won't be subject to another gag."  
 
"We Greens look forward to supporting a Bill that delivers a fairer, stronger and more vibrant democracy," said Mr Parker.

More information: Alison Martin 9230 2803 or 0432 941 533
 
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Electorate Officer
Office of Jamie Parker 
NSW Greens MP
Member for Balmain
112a Glebe Point Rd,
Glebe, NSW 2037
Ph: 9660 7586
Fax: 9660 6112
jamie.parker at parliament.nsw.gov.au
www.jamieparker.org.au