[Greens-Media] Coalition/Labor challenged to stop candidates personally profiting from elections

[Newman, Freya (Sen L. Rhiannon)]

News, democracy





MEDIA COMMENT

24 June 2016



Coalition/Labor challenged to stop candidates personally profiting from elections



The Greens are calling for the Coalition and Labor to commit to urgent reforms of the electoral funding laws that would ensure that the millions of dollars that parties and independents will receive after this election cannot be used for personal or private purposes.



"All parties should back the straight forward reform that would stop candidates profiteering out of elections," Senator Rhiannon said.



"All funding paid out to parties and independents should only be spent on party administration and election campaigns.



"Because of the failure to implement these reforms some unsuccessful candidates in this election will pockets tens of thousands of dollars. There is nothing stopping them using that money for their personal gain.



"Electoral funding reforms are long overdue. No candidate should be able to make a personal profit from public funding allocated to candidates who receive more than four per cent of the vote.



"The Australian Electoral Commission pays $2.62 for each vote to all candidates who gain more than four per cent of the vote.



"The Greens have long advocated for reforms that would make it an offence for candidates to use electoral funding for personal private use. If candidates and parties do not use their allocation of electoral funding for party administration and election campaigns then it should be paid back.