11/06/2016

Print Article: Liberal elders call for donations reform as Hockey hits back

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LiberalelderscallfordonationsreformasHockeyhitsback
JamesMassola
Published:May6,20147:03AM

Whatwouldanalternativeondonationslooklike?
MeetBillShortenfor$3300
TwoformerLiberalleadershavecalledforsweepingreformstopoliticaldonationsfollowingrevelationsthat
TreasurerJoeHockey'scampaignfundraisingbody,theNorthSydneyForum,offeredVIPmeetingstogroups
includingbusinesspeopleandindustrylobbyistsinreturnforannualfeesofupto$22,000.
AfuriousMrHockeyhitbackonMonday,labellingthereport"bothoffensiveandrepugnant"anddenying
anysuggestionofimproperbehaviour.
"TheTreasurerwillnotletthisdistracthimfromtheimportanttaskofputtingtheBudgettogether.Asthe
matterisnowinthehandsoflawyersnofurthercommentcanbemade,''hesaidinastatement.
FormerLiberalprimeministerMalcolmFraserandoppositionleaderJohnHewsonbothcalledfor
"continuousdisclosure"ofpoliticaldonationsthatwouldrequirepartiestoreporttotheAustralianElectoral
Commissionwithindaysofdonationsbeingmade.
DrHewsonwentfurtherincallingfora$1000limitonindividualdonations,greaterpublicfundingandaban
ondonationsfromorganisationsincludingbusinessesandunions.
MrFrasersaiditwasverylikelyafederalversionoftheNSWIndependentCommissionAgainst
CorruptionwasneededashearguedLiberalPartyfounderSirRobertMenzieshadbeendeterminedtokeep
partyfundraisingatarm'slengthfrompolicymakingandpoliticians.
OppositionleaderBillShortenofferedtoworkwiththegovernmentonMondayonanyproposaltoreform
electoraldonationsasitemergedhewillhostafundraiserinSydneyonThursdayforaprebudgetFederal
LaborBusinessForumeventthatwillcostetween$2500$3300ahead.
"ImakethisinvitationtoTonyAbbott,thatifyouwanttoimprovetransparencyofpoliticaldonations,sodoes
Labor,wewillworkwithyou,''hesaid.
TheParliamentofAustraliashouldconstantlybeseekingtoimprovetheelectionfundingrulesinthis
country...IthinklikeeveryotherAustralianwehavebeennauseatedbythetoxicrevelationsoutofICAC
aboutNSWpolitics.
MrAbbottplayeddownthesignificanceofMrHockey'sNorthSydneyForum,afundraisingbodyrunbyhis
NorthSydneyFederalElectoralConference,offeringVIPmeetingswiththeTreasurerinexchangefor
membershipfeesrangingfrom$5500to$22,000.
ThePrimeMinisterstoppedshortofcommittingtothecreationofafederalICACbutvowedhewouldensure
lobbyistshad"noroleintherunningofpoliticalparties".
"Allpoliticalpartieshavetoraisemoneyandtypicallyyouraisemoneybyhavingeventswheresenior
membersofthePartygo,andobviously,theymeetpeopleattheseevents.Thealternativetofundraisingin
thistimehonouredwayistaxpayerfundingandatatimewhenweretalkingaboutaverytoughBudget
indeed,theideathatweshouldscrapprivatefundraisingandfundpoliticalpartiesthroughthetaxpayerIthink

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11/06/2016

Print Article: Liberal elders call for donations reform as Hockey hits back

wouldbevery,veryodd,''hesaid.
TheformerLaborgovernmenthadagreedasweepingpackageofreformstopoliticaldonationslastMaybut
thelegislationwasshelvedamidanoutcryofthechanges,whichwouldhaveseentensofmillionsin
additionalpublicfundinghandedtopoliticalparties.
MrFrasersaidhewascertainMrHockeywas"totallyhonest"butthatheabhoredthesystemthathad
developedarounddonationstopoliticalparties.
"Ifyougobacktothe[predecessortotheLiberalParty,the]UnitedAustraliaParty,thepeoplewhofunded
thepartythoughttheycouldcontrolpolicy.Menzieswasdeterminedthatthatwouldnothappen.Thatswhy
heasfoundeditfundraisingwastheresponsibilityoftheorganisation,policyandpoliticstheresponsibilityof
membersofparliament.
"Publicfundingandbanningprivatedonationstopoliticalpartiesisnotnecessarilyasimplysolution...the
easierthingistoestablishtotaltransparency,andtohavethattransparencyimmediate,reportingweeklyor
everyfewdays."
DrHewsonsaiddeclaringdonationseveryfewdayswould"createadifferentclimate"inpolitics.
"Andifyoucantlimitittoindividualdonationstoamaximumof$1000thenyoujusthavetogotopublic
fundingofelectionstohaveatransparentprocess.Itsthelackoftransparencyanddisclosurethatisa
fundamentalproblem,''hesaid.
"Mypreferenceistobanalldonationsbyorganisations,companies,associations,unionsandresearchbodies,
andthenlimitindividualdonationstoalowmaximum.Andweneedimmediatedisclosureofdonations."
TheNSWbranchoftheLiberalPartyhasbeenrockedbyrecentrevelationsattheICACthathaveseen
PremierBarryO'FarrellresignandaslewofMPs,includingtwoministers,movetothecrossbenchamid
allegetionsofimproperlinkstothecontroversialinfrastructurecompanyAustralianWaterHoldings,which
hasinturnbeenlinkedtothefamilyofcorruptformerLaborpowerbrokerEddieObeid.
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Thisstorywasfoundat:http://www.smh.com.au/federalpolitics/politicalnews/liberalelderscallfordonationsreformas
hockeyhitsback20140505zr506.html

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