Media Releases

Senate Resuscitates Electoral Funding Inquiry [4th Mar, 2004]
by Senator Andrew Murray

The Australian Democrats welcome Senate support for a Democrats’ motion to resuscitate an inquiry on electoral funding and disclosure to the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters. The inquiry was constituted in August 2000 but had lapsed at the 2001 federal election.

The Committee will report at the end of June 2004.

Australian Democrats’ Electoral Matters spokesperson Senator Andrew Murray said: “That inquiry was long overdue in 2000 and, is even longer overdue now.

“This election year will see several tens of millions get flushed out of the pockets of shareholders of companies and members of unions into political party coffers, often without the direct permission of those shareholders and members.

“While we acknowledge that funding is vital for the operation of political parties what we do take issue with are donations that have ‘strings attached’.

“Political parties cannot be perceived as preferentially servicing big campaign donors, which also includes corporations, developers and unions, and those from the ‘sin industries’ like tobacco and gaming companies.

“This is also a significant concern in the construction industry. Hence, the Senate Inquiry into the Building and Construction Industry legislation has been specifically asked by the Democrats to examine the influence of political donations in this industry.

“Another area of particular concern is donations from ‘front’ organisations such as trust funds, foundations and clubs as vehicles to skirt the intent of the electoral funding disclosure laws, thereby masking the identity of the donors.

“We have long advocated that the policies and practices of political parties should not be influenced by the inclinations of their donors. That is why we must end donations that have ‘strings attached’.

“We strongly urge the Government to support Democrat initiatives calling for strong measures for full transparency in political lobbying and political funding,” concluded Senator Murray.