The Greens are delighted our bill to make political donations transparent has passed the Tasmanian House of Assembly. The bill strengthens transparency by requiring political donations over $1000, instead of over $5000, to be disclosed to the public, and for disclosures to be made monthly instead of six monthly outside of election campaigns.
We thank the members of the Lower House who worked collaboratively with the Greens on this bill, and voted unanimously for political donations transparency for the Tasmanian public. This balance of power Parliament provides real opportunities for the Greens to achieve outcomes like this for Tasmanians.
Big donations from corporations to Liberal and Labor parties have been hidden from the Tasmanian public for too long. Our reforms seek to take the secrecy out of political donations and restore public trust in democracy.
Tasmanians should be able to follow the money that has gone to candidates’ campaigns. For years, the Liberals have ensured Lutruwita/Tasmania has the weakest donations laws in the country so they could keep doing dodgy deals with corporate donors behind closed doors. The influence of secret donors has had corrosive impacts on government decisions, with misuse of public monies and privatisation of public lands and waters.
While there are other reforms needed to ensure full political transparency, the passage of this bill through the lower house is a first step. The Greens won’t give up on other much-needed reforms to ensure integrity in politics.
Now it’s over to Cassy O’Connor MLC to take it through the Upper House in the new year. We hope all Legislative Council Members will support the bill, in the spirit of democracy.
