Page 1207 - Week 04 - Thursday, 21 March 1991
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level of expenditure by political parties on electoral advertising has increased substantially. For example, spending on broadcasting advertising between the 1984 and 1987 Federal elections rose by 109 per cent. Over that same period public funding rose by 32 per cent. I ask members to bear in mind that we do not have public funding in the ACT. We had it for our first election, but we do not have it for our next one or for any other election.
It is a fact, and it will be borne out by political parties of any experience whatsoever, that parties have been forced to seek greater levels of donations to fill that gap. The joint standing committee was of the view that that increasing burden exposes parties to potential corruption. They further determined that the ability to buy television and radio time should not and must not play a determining part in elections.
It is probably worthwhile if we look at the situation overseas. From the remarks of Mr Stevenson and Mr Kaine, you would have thought Australia was in a unique position in banning political advertising on the electronic media. This, of course, is not the case. The joint standing committee examined 19 liberal democracies throughout the world. They were able to find only five democracies that permitted paid political advertising on the electronic media. Those five were Canada, the United States, Germany, New Zealand and Australia. Where, I ask, is Britain? It is not there. Where is France? Where are any number of other democracies? Of those 19 examined, only five permit any sort of electronic advertising. In Canada, in fact, there is a total ban 28 days out from an election.
In looking towards this step, the Federal Government is really trying to keep Australia up to date with other liberal democracies. It is a progressive step. It is a step aimed at increasing social justice, at increasing the chances of election of groups such as Mr Stevenson's. I ask: How is Mr Stevenson going to be able to pay for his television advertising? We know what it cost in the last election. I ask Mr Stevenson: Do you agree that he who pays the piper calls the tune and, if so, who is calling your tune? Where are you going to get the $100,000-odd for your television ads? It is a serious question, and it is one that everyone in this Assembly should bear in mind.
Australia is at present out of step with other democracies, and that is an issue that has been raised across various parties. The Labor Party is not the only one that has raised it. As Mr Kaine has reluctantly pointed out, the Democrats are giving this idea some support. It has also had support from some perhaps unexpected quarters. I would like to quote part of the advice given to the Fitzgerald inquiry. This person said:
However, I do believe that the cost now of running elections ... is escalating at a rate which I don't think is in the best interests of any of the citizens.
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