donations reform

More proof Govt electoral funding Bill is a dud - Abbott’s success with donations for Liberals would still be legal

Lee Rhiannon 1 Mar 2018

Today’s report that former PM Tony Abbott successfully solicited political donations from property developer Huang Xiangmo is further proof that the Turnbull Government’s electoral funding Bill currently before parliament will not end the corrupting influence of big money.

The Greens are stepping up their campaign to have the Bill withdrawn and new legislation agreed to that introduces strict caps on all political donations to political parties irrespective of their source.

Time Labor ditched Shorten’s weak stance on political donation reform

Lee Rhiannon 31 Jul 2017

Democracy

Greens democracy spokesperson Senator Lee Rhiannon has accused Labor of using their classic tactic of different messages for different audiences on political donation reform.

“While Senator Dastyari is going for the ‘full monty’ version calling for a total ban on political donations, Mr Shorten is pushing the minimalist version of reform that goes no further than some transparency changes to reporting and a ban on foreign donations,” Senator Rhiannon said.

“Labor’s official position will not clean up politics or end the corrupting influence of political donations.

Greens dissenting report into JSCEM foreign donations report

Lee Rhiannon 10 Mar 2017

Democracy

The Australian Greens have issued a dissenting report into the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters’ Second interim report on the inquiry in the conduct of the 2016 federal election: Foreign Donations.

Greens spokesperson for democracy Senator Lee Rhiannon said, “Electoral funding reform is long overdue and the Greens have insisted for a very long time that any reforms need to be far-reaching if they are to count.

“We welcome the ban on political parties and their associated entities from accepting overseas donations.

AEC data shows total payments to political parties hit $1 billion; Greens call for real reform

Lee Rhiannon 1 Feb 2017

Democracy

The Greens’ Democracy for Sale project has found the total amount of declared donations and payments made to Australian political parties since 1998 has topped $1 billion.

“The Greens strongly support adopting much timelier reporting of donations and payments, and lowering the threshold for disclosure,” Greens spokesperson for democracy Senator Lee Rhiannon said.

“We have called for both of those things for a long time and we will continue to. But we need to go much further.

Bob Day still has questions to answer

Lee Rhiannon 1 Nov 2016

Democracy

Greens spokesperson for democracy Senator Lee Rhiannon says former Senator Bob Day still has many outstanding questions to answer.

“Bob Day will be remembered as the Senator who bankrolled his own political career with questionable political donations. Now we know that these donations were made around the same time that his building empire was leaving many, many people in financial ruin.

Robert, Dastyari, ????? - how many scandals will it take for major parties to back anti corruption reforms

Lee Rhiannon 29 Sep 2016

Democracy

The case of Liberal MP Stuart Robert, a serial offender in how he engages with lobbyists and uses political donations, lends great weight to the need for a national corruption watchdog and far reaching electoral funding reforms, Greens democracy spokesperson Senator Lee Rhiannon said.

"Mr Robert is the tip of the iceberg of questionable political donation and lobbyist practices," Senator Rhiannon said.