Ban donations for a level playing field, independent candidate says
All political donations should be banned to improve the integrity of elections, an independent candidate for Franklin Hans Willink says. Why he says we need to “break the link between big chequebooks and political influence”.
Tasmania
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All political donations should be banned to improve the integrity of elections, independent candidate for Franklin Hans Willink says.
Mr Willink said Tasmania should follow South Australia’s lead in banning all donations as a way of making sure all parties and candidate received a fair go, not just the well-resourced.
“Tasmania has struggled for years with poor donation laws and weak transparency,” he said.
“We all remember 2018, when secret gambling industry donations blindsided voters and helped swing an election,” Mr Willink said.
“While the current reforms are an improvement, they still don’t break the link between big chequebooks and political influence.”
Mr Willink said the South Australian model providing eligible political parties and independents with taxpayer funding for their campaigns, based on votes received.
Reforms to Tasmania’s electoral donations laws have improved transparency through more frequent disclosure, but Mr Willink said there was more to be done.
“This means all candidates, big or small, have a fair chance to run, spread their ideas, and connect with voters — without being beholden to vested interests,” he said.
“This is how democracy should work,” Mr Willink said. “Elections should be contests of ideas — not auctions to the highest bidder.”
This is Mr Willink’s 13th campaign for elected office since 1998.
He admits his campaign is a long shot, saying if he wins a seat it will be like “Lazurus with a triple bypass who has taken up ice-skating and done a Bradbury”.
Mr Willink was also Tasmania’s first Uber driver.
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