Page 5346 - Week 14 - Thursday, 19 November 2009

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video

MS HUNTER (Ginninderra—Parliamentary Convenor, ACT Greens) (3.57): The Greens strongly support an inquiry into electoral and political party funding, as we have long called for reform in this area. I move the following amendment to Mr Seselja’s motion:

Omit all words after “That”, substitute:

“(1) the Standing Committee on Justice and Community Safety inquire into electoral and political party funding in the ACT, including:

(a) regulation of:

(i) donation size;

(ii) political party campaign expenditure; and

(iii) third party campaign expenditure;

(b) financial disclosure laws;

(c) direct and indirect public funding of elections;

(d) regulation of:

(i) donations by private individuals, corporations, unions, organisations and other contributors; and

(ii) personal candidate funding;

(e) enforcement of funding and financial disclosure law;

(f) the relationship between ACT electoral law and Commonwealth electoral law;

(g) any Constitutional matters; and

(h) any other relevant matter.”.

This amendment provides greater clarity in the terms of reference as well as some additional points such as taking into account the relationship between the ACT electoral law and commonwealth electoral law.

The Greens have campaigned nationally over many years for change to the way in which donations to political parties may influence government and the decisions of those in office. Senator Bob Brown was one of the first national leaders to call for serious revision and examination of the funding of elections and the way in which our current arrangements affect the democratic process. Senator Brown stated that the hallmark of a healthy democracy is that no elector is disenfranchised through a lack of opportunity to ensure that her or his vote is of equal weight and to know that the democratic process of this country is governed by the principle of one person, one vote, one value.

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video