Page 1720 - Week 05 - Thursday, 8 May 2008

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for me. Although I do read Dr Foskey’s blog, as I said yesterday, on special occasions—it is not a nightly pastime, I hate to say—and I certainly think I have better things to do than spend every week updating a website about how much money is coming to my campaign.

Dr Foskey: I did say I would negotiate; once might be enough.

MR MULCAHY: I am happy to support something that is less onerous, and that is why I was more than happy to support the concept of having a reporting date after the fiscal year of eight weeks so that you still have that out in the open before the election. But I think the weekly proposal, which is the one before the Assembly at the moment, is, frankly, too difficult to adhere to. There would be candidates who are less resourced than I and who would find it a massive burden in the next election or in an upcoming election.

If we are to achieve the level of transparency, I would suggest, with respect to Dr Foskey, that she come up with something that is more manageable. There is probably likely to be greater support. I certainly would be happy to have a level of transparency but I do not want to drive people crazy trying to comply with administrative burdens, especially, as the minister said, in the middle of an election when most of us are flat out at that final stage.

MR STEFANIAK (Ginninderra) (11.17): I concur with both the Attorney-General and Mr Mulcahy. I will not labour the points they have made. If someone can ever come up with a system where you can do away with political donations yet be fair to everyone, that would be worthy of support. I think that might be rather hard, but good luck anyway. I will be interested to see what happens there.

Question put:

That proposed new clause 64A be agreed to.

The Assembly voted—

Question so resolved in the negative.

Proposed new clause 64A negatived.

Clause 65.

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