Australian Greens democracy spokesperson Senator Lee Rhiannon has called for Labor and the Coalition to commit to legislating to ban corporate donations to political parties and to voluntarily disclose online all political donations over $1000 donated in the current election.

Commenting on today’s government announcement on electoral funding reform, Greens democracy spokesperson Senator Lee Rhiannon has called for the new law to include bans and caps on political donations to ensure an end to the corrupting culture of corporate money buying influence in the democratic process.

Federal Labor should move on electoral funding reform now South Australia has joined NSW, Queensland and the ACT and committed to clean up political donations, says Australian Greens democracy spokesperson Lee Rhiannon. 

"With the federal election just months away federal Labor would win considerable brownie points with the public by following the lead of South Australia and putting in place reforms that have strong public support," Senator Rhiannon said.

The Gillard government should broaden electoral funding reforms promised before the upcoming election to ban corporate donations outright which would help build public trust in our democratic system that has been dented by the Obeid and Thomson affairs, says Greens Senator and Australian Greens democracy spokesperson Lee Rhiannon.

When I arrived in the federal parliament back in July 2011 I was told that the Estimates process was probably the best thing about the Senate. “Democracy in action” is how some describe this exhaustive process whereby Senators can ask endless questions of Ministers and senior public servants.

Having just finished my second week of Estimate hearings I do think they are excellent, although frustrating at times. Some Ministers and their bureaucrats are adept at side stepping the questions we pose. But then the challenge is with us to ask the right questions.

Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee

Estimates hearings, 14 February 2012

Australian Electoral Commission

Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee

Estimates hearings, 18 October 2011

Australian Electoral Commission