Page 2783 - Week 07 - Wednesday, 29 June 2011
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those proposals, but it does demonstrate that other parliaments have been prepared to respond to these issues relatively quickly in the face of particular concerns.
That brings us to the amount. It should be known that we have in-principle support for a cap on donations but we are not particularly settled on $50,000, though it does appear to be a reasonable starting point. Again we look forward to working with all the parties on this issue.
This will always be a very difficult issue for this place. We all depend on donations to some extent to get here, and we do need to respond proportionately to the level of risk of inappropriateness that exists.
We accept that this does leave a level of uncertainty about donations until we resolve the issue. In some ways that is undesirable; however, the evident intention ensures that people still make donations to the political party they support without any fear that they will be punished for it. As I indicated, there is a mechanism that needs to be addressed, as this has not been considered by the existing proposal in that we do not know what would happen to the amount that exceeds $50,000. I put forward a solution earlier. As I said, this does overcome Mr Corbell’s concerns. I have explained it and we need to be looking at this alternative to address a particular issue that Mr Corbell raised.
I would like to finish by again emphasising that the Greens have come to this view not on the basis of a rumour but on the basis of our in-principle support that caps to donations have the potential to protect the integrity of our democratic system. It is on this basis, and this basis alone, that we will openly and constructively work through the details of Mr Smyth’s bill from the table today.
MS GALLAGHER (Molonglo—Chief Minister, Minister for Health, Minister for Industrial Relations and Treasurer) (11.00): I welcome the opportunity to speak in relation to this bill today and to support the comments and the very comprehensive arguments that have been put forward by the Attorney-General about why this bill should not be passed in principle today.
It is a little bit embarrassing for Mrs Dunne that Mr Smyth, her colleague, has been forced to come in here and introduce legislation whilst she, as the chair of a committee, has taken so long and been so tardy in her responsibilities as a chair to finalise the inquiry into electoral reform as authorised by this Assembly.
There is active consideration by a committee in this place, the Standing Committee on Justice and Community Safety, going directly to the issues in relation to which Mr Smyth has been forced to come in here on some unknown rumour that he does not feel able to put to members in this place. The non-executive members leading this work on behalf of the Assembly have not been able to finalise their inquiry in a reasonable time so that we are in a position 16 months out from the next election to deal with issues of electoral reform. We all accept that there are improvements that can be made in this area. That is precisely why the committee has been established and been given the very wide terms of reference that it has to deal with all these issues.
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