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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 05 Hansard (Friday, 14 May 2004) . . Page.. 2090 ..

threshold and, therefore, the parties did not have to list the donors in their annual return. In one example, five donations of $1,499 were made to the ACT Labor Party on the same day and another five sets of $1,499 were made the very next day. This donor gave $14,990 in total but, because of the loophole, the donor is not listed on the ALP’s annual return and remained hidden.

Although individual donors are required to notify the Electoral Commission of their donations, when their name does not appear on the party’s public list of donations of over $1,500 it is very difficult for a member of the public to know that this donor exists. Clearly, this is bad for democracy. The funding disclosure system is intended to make it clear where the money is coming from to support political parties so that then the public can make up its own mind whether there might be suspicion of undue influence on political decisions.

My amendment would mean that, except for small amounts, defined as less than $100 received at fund-raising events, all instances of donation are included in the total and so all major donors would be listed on parties’ and MLAs’ annual returns.

Mr Stanhope: The government does not agree with the bill, Mr Speaker.

MR SPEAKER: Ms Tucker has closed the debate. I am sorry—that is my fault.

Question put:

That this bill be agreed to in principle.

The Assembly voted—

Ayes 3	Noes 14
Mrs Cross	Mr Berry	Ms MacDonald
Ms Dundas	Mrs Burke	Mr Pratt
Ms Tucker	Mr Corbell	Mr Quinlan
	Mr Cornwell	Mr Smyth
	Mrs Dunne	Mr Stanhope
	Ms Gallagher	Mr Stefaniak
	Mr Hargreaves	Mr Wood

Question so resolved in the negative.

Suspension of standing and temporary orders

Motion (by Mr Wood) agreed to, with the concurrence of an absolute majority:

That so much of the standing and temporary orders be suspended as would prevent order of the day No 26, private members business, relating to the Projects of Territorial Significance Bill 2004 and order of the day, executive business relating to the Gungahlin Drive Extension Authorisation Bill 2004 being called on and debated cognately.

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