Page 27 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 12 February 2019
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We will be agreeing to this in principle today because the devil very much is in the detail, not just with regard to the Greens’ amendments but with regard to some of the detail within the bill, particularly when it relates to campaign finance. We have to be very careful that we do not have any unintended consequences in trying to achieve the outcome of the bill, which is to make it more equitable.
We do not want to do the reverse. It is very important that what we end up with is workable and that we do not end up with arrangements that become too problematic and difficult, and which would then prevent people from engaging in the political process. As much as we want to make sure that we do not have donations that are intended to unduly or inappropriately influence political activities, equally, we have to make sure that people are able to participate in the political process, and that includes being able to donate to any of the parties, individuals or independents that may be standing.
It is important, as well, that the rules are balanced and fair. I note that there are amendments that address gambling and gambling entities. I echo some of the comments that Mr Coe has been making. We have a highly regulated gambling sector, particularly as it relates to poker machines. We also have a situation where the government has moved for a bill and, with respect to the Labor Club and the 1973 Foundation—the entity that is there essentially to get money out of the Labor clubs and donate it back to the Labor Party—it is a matter of whether that will form part of this suite of amendments from the government.
If you are serious about legislative reform, and making make sure that we have the strongest electoral donation laws in the country, and if we want to make sure that those laws address those people in a highly regulated industry that may potentially have an influence, be it property developers or gambling entities involving poker machines, to introduce a series of amendments whereby the Labor Club and the 1973 Foundation can continue to donate to the Labor Party unfettered does smack of a certain disingenuous approach.
We look forward to working with the other political parties to make sure that we do strengthen our laws, which I think are very strong already. I think they are good laws. In the past we have seen the three parties work cooperatively together. Each party will perhaps be looking to advantage themselves. I note that some of the Greens amendments look like they are designed to do what is best for the Greens, and no doubt the same is the case with some of the Labor Party ones.
It is important that we then put some of those prejudices aside and work for what is in the best interests of the people. It should be fair and balanced, and it should strengthen our laws. We need to make sure that people can participate, that they are workable and that there is no undue or inappropriate influence on our political process. I look forward, with Mr Coe, who will be taking the lead on this from the opposition, to working with the other parties to achieve that outcome.
MS LE COUTEUR (Murrumbidgee) (11.00): Our democracy is for people, not for companies. The Greens support a very simple principle: that the people of a
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