Rotten donations culture threatens Brisbane

Originally posted to www.greenupbrisbane.net/2008/02/rotten-donation.html 25 February 2008 Brown paper bag protest outside City Hall Giant Brown paper bags:

• one will be filled with wads of cash by named after actual developers who have donated to the Liberal and Labor Parties
• a second will have a giant question mark as to what donations are coming in right now that the public does not know about

The key ingredients leading to the Wollongong developers donations scandal are all here in Brisbane. Both Queensland Liberal and Labor parties use the developers as cash cows for their election campaigns. Cosy relationships develop. Big money projects go before Council staff and politicians all the time. Donations made today need not be disclosed until months after the election. The Greens Jo Bragg repeats her 7 February call for a ban on political donations from property developers AND for the major parties to follow the Greens lead and voluntarily disclose all donations to parties or associated entities over $1500 on the website prior to the Council election. Ms Bragg said " Now in the same week we have heard both the NSW Premier admitting that the rotten donations culture must end AND Shadow Treasurer Malcolm Turnbull calling for a ban on donations by corporations. It really is time for an overhaul of the electoral donations laws to ban donations by property developers to political parties AND to require prompt disclosure of any donations over $1500 on line before the election. The Greens have pledged to publish any donations over $1500 online 2 weeks before the Brisbane City Council elections." Ms Bragg continued "The system stinks. Property developers are not charities, they give money hoping for favours. This is not normal or acceptable behaviour in a democracy and brings the threat of corruption. Brisbane lacks acceptable safeguards against corruption. Mums and Dads voters and community groups putting forward their views can't compete with property developers in political influence." Ms Bragg continued, "Over in the United States, politicians must disclose political donations before an election whereas in Queensland a donation made to Campbell Newman's party or Fund today might not be known to the public until months after the election. The US rules makes sense- we need to know where the money comes from and where obligations lie between business and politicians." "Does Campbell Newman think that the citizens of Brisbane deserve less timely information about the money behind campaigns than US citizens?" Ms Bragg asked. "The Crime and Misconduct Commission into the Gold Coast Council recommended continuous public disclosure of donations to political parties. Campbell Newman has the option of voluntary disclosure- why is he not prepared to follow the Greens lead and disclose donations over $1500 online before the election?" said Ms Bragg. Ms Bragg said, "Why are Campbell Newman and Greg Rowell failing to join the Green's pledge? A rotten donations culture threatens Brisbane and Wollongong shows where this can lead. Jo Bragg (Ms) Greens' Lord Mayoral Candidate for Brisbane Contact: 0406 916 657