Media Releases

Quid Pro Quo Needed for WA Electoral Funding [19th May, 2006]
by Senator Andrew Murray

The Australian Democrats today greeted the news that WA may introduce public funding for political parties contesting state elections with approval, but said such a system should not be introduced without a strong quid pro quo.
The Australian Democrats have long believed that political parties contesting elections should be funded by governments to avoid the dangerous influence and control exerted by big individual, corporate, and union donors. That is the rub of course - the majors will not reform the current donations system, said Senator Murray, Democrats Electoral Matters spokesperson.
The minimum quid pro quo that the public must demand in return for WA government funding for political parties contesting state elections must be that political parties produce an annual report that fully details their financial statements, the sources of their income and what it is spent on.
Political parties should at least be subject to the public accountability regime that applies to listed corporations and unions. At present they have less transparency than a local sports club.
Further, in return for this concession, reforms to WA funding and disclosure laws must include:
That professional fund raising be subject to the same disclosure rules applying to donations
That political parties must disclose who lies behind donations from trusts, foundations or clubs or return the money
That donations or loans from foreign overseas individuals, or overseas entities be banned
That donations with strings attached be prohibited.
One vote one value was introduced in WA without any quid pro quo being demanded. The same mistake must not be made twice, concluded Senator Murray.