Liberals’ proposed political donation reforms are ‘not good enough’, independent MLC Meg Webb says

Draft political donation rule changes take Tasmania from “far, far behind the pack” to “almost catching up to the worst”, an MLC says. LATEST >>

THE government’s crackdown on dodgy donations to political parties does not go anywhere near far enough, according to independent MP Meg Webb.

Ms Webb’s comments are in response to the draft Electoral Disclosure and Funding Bill, which proposes sweeping reforms to political donations.

However, the bill does not ban donations from property developers, pokies barons or tobacco companies, putting Tasmania at odds with other states such as NSW.

“The draft legislation we’ve seen from the government looking to reform our political donation rules takes us from ‘far, far behind the pack’ to ‘almost catching up to the worst of the pack’,” Ms Webb said.

“It’s not good enough for the Tasmanian people to be wondering if a particular industry has purchased through its donations a policy outcome for itself and delivered vested interests.”

Independent MLC Meg Webb says the government’s proposed political donations reforms don’t go far enough. Picture: Kenji Sato

Ms Webb has joined with Labor and the Greens in pushing for stricter caps for anonymous donations.

Greens leader Cassy O’Connor claimed that the “feebleness” of Tasmania’s donation laws directly benefitted to the Liberal Party.

“We’ve watched successive elections being corrupted by corporate and vested interests, and we think Tasmanians want the laws cleaned up too,” she said.

“I think it’s fair to say the 2018 state election was bought and paid for by the gambling industry lobby, which especially targeted Green and Labor candidates.”

Attorney-General Elise Archer defended the reforms. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Attorney-General Elise Archer said the government was working to ensure elections would be fair and transparent for voters.

“The Tasmanian government is delivering on our commitment to introduce a fair, more transparent and modern political donation disclosure scheme in Tasmania,” she said.

“This will increase transparency while ensuring that the public continues to have confidence in the outcomes of elections into the future.”

Electoral Funding Reform’s Roland Browne, a prominent Hobart lawyer, said the bill was a step in the right direction.

Roland Browne also says the reforms should go further. Picture: Chris Kidd

He said the ban on foreign donations, the online disclosure system, and new public funding model were particularly welcome additions to Tasmania’s electoral system.

However, he said the bill left much to be desired when it came to cracking down on donations from developers, the gambling industry, and other industry groups.

“All forms of corruption are possible in Tasmania, and have likely existed at different times. A ban on donations from corrupting industries is essential to a healthy democracy,” Mr Browne said.

“We hope the Tasmanian government will hear the bell toll: no more elections dominated by

money from gaming or hospitality or land developers, or secretly funded.”

Calls for $1000+ political donations to be made public

September 30

LABOR and the Greens want donations of $1000 to be made public under a shake up to the state’s political donation laws and spending caps introduced, arguing the proposed reforms don’t go far enough.

Shadow Attorney-General Ella Haddad said there needs to be significant amendments to the Electoral Disclosure and Funding Bill and spending caps introduced for election campaigns.

“I would encourage the government to look at the spending caps that apply in the ACT and look to putting caps in for parties, candidates, third party campaigners that meet community expectation.”

Currently in Tasmania only donations above $14,300 need to be publicly disclosed, and under the proposed reforms that will be dropped to $5000.  

Labor also wants the timeframe for disclosure of donations outside of an election period reduced to one month instead of six month, and public donations disclosure to  be publicly available for at least a full parliamentary term.

“This is our chance to actually do it and do it right, clean up Tasmanian politics and make sure politics is a battle of ideas not a battle of bank accounts,” Ms Haddad said.

Ms Haddad said cumulative donations of $1000 was a reasonable place to require disclosure, instead of requiring every donation to be made public.

“There is also an administrative role to play here and the Bill quite rightly puts forward quite serious offences if parties and candidates fail to comply with the new law so they do need to be workable.”

Greens leader Cassy O’Connor said the draft legislation was a step in the right direction, but Tasmania would still have the weakest donations laws in the country if the Bill was to pass in its current form.

“What we are seeing here is a half baked attempt that would advantage the major parties, in particular the Liberals,” she said.  

“We are arguing that there should be a cap on candidate expenditure of $81,000 and cap on parties of $810,000 and that go up incrementally year on year.”

Kristie Johnston MHA. Picture Eddie Safarik

Greens want a cap of $3000 introduced for donations from any individual or entity within a term and further restrictions on foreign donations.

Labor has steered away from criticising changes that will see political parties receive $6 per first preference vote in public funding if they get at least 4 per cent of the vote.

Independent MHA Kristie Johnston has said it will unfairly advantage the major parties.

The Greens want the amount lowered to the Commonwealth level of $2.87 per vote and the requirement to receive 4 per cent of the vote removed to ensure all candidates are able to be reimbursed.

The government has said it is delivering on its commitment to introduce a more transparent and modern political donation disclosure scheme in Tasmania.