[Greens-Media] PARNELL: Labor must act quickly to ban dodgy donations

[Parnell]

Media Release
Thursday 1st November 2012

Labor must act quickly to ban dodgy donations    

Greens Parliamentary Leader Mark Parnell has moved a motion in State Parliament calling for the Weatherill Government to quickly introduce legislation to ban political donations in the wake of the successful motion at last weekend's ALP state convention by SDA Union Boss Peter Malinauskas.

 "The South Australian Labor Party Convention voted unanimously last weekend to reform the laws governing donations to political parties, banning or severely restricting private donations," Mr Parnell said today. 

"In response, Premier Weatherill has failed to commit to action this Parliamentary term.  That's simply not good enough.

"We all know expensive fundraising events give corporate heavy weights access to politicians that ordinary citizens simply don't get. We all know this is letting down the electorate, which likes to think it has a say in politics. The old parties are selling democracy to the highest bidder and it's got to end," Mr Parnell said today.

 "The Leader of the Opposition, Isobel Redmond is already on the public record declaring her commitment to reform the funding of state political parties.  Now reform is part of official Labor party policy," he added.

"As there is now widespread political support there should be no impediment to Parliament bringing about the reform that everyone knows the state needs,' Mr Parnell said. 

The Greens have long been arguing for political donations reform.  A Greens Bill to ban cozy fundraising diners using Ministers as bait will come to a vote shortly. 

"South Australia has the worst political donations disclosure laws in the country," Mr Parnell said.

"Reform is long overdue.  It is refreshing that the ALP now recognizes it's time for a change.

"Now is the time for Premier Weatherill to be proactive, and act on the resolution passed by his own party to ban corporate and union donations to political parties," Mr Parnell urged. 


For further comment contact Craig Wilkins on 0434 07 893