[Greens-Media] Greens call on AEC, Dept of Finance to investigate Parakeelia and Liberal connection

[Newman, Freya (Sen L. Rhiannon)]

MEDIA RELEASE
13 June 2016

Greens call on AEC, Dept of Finance to investigate Parakeelia and Liberal connection

Greens democracy spokesperson Senator Lee Rhiannon has written to the Australian Electoral Commission and the Department of Finance requesting that both bodies investigate the relationship between Parakeelia software company and the Liberal Party of Australia and their associated branches.
Senator Rhiannon said, “The Parakeelia scandal requires further investigation and today I have written to the AEC and the Department of Finance requesting that.

“I have asked the AEC whether these allegations, if confirmed, amount to a violation of the laws governing associated entities and payments from associated entities to political parties.

“If Parakeelia is found to be a conduit for parliamentary allowances to be channelled into the Liberal Party then that is a serious rort of public money.
“I have asked the Department of Finance whether the payment of allowances and reimbursements for this software contravened the relevant guidelines.
“The Liberal Party may have found a way to launder parliamentary software allowances into donations to their party.
"We know that Parakeelia has already been investigated by the AEC in 2012, and the compliance review report emerging from that investigation found two errors regarding the reporting of receipts. It is time for another investigation.”

Media contact: Freya Newman 0411 669 022<tel:0411%20669%20022>