Electioneering turns to political donations

BY MICK ROBERTS

Labor and The Greens have fired the first shots in the debate over political donations by attempting to set new accountability guidelines prior to the local government elections.
The Greens want candidates to voluntarily disclose political donations of $200 or more on Council’s website in advance of polling day.
Greens Councillor Chris Harris said a State Parliament Bill requiring candidates to disclose donations twice a year – in February and August – means that candidates for council elections will not have to disclose their donations until February 2009 ‘ five months after the election.
“The new State Government disclosure requirements will do nothing to improve transparency in the lead up to the City of Sydney election,’ Cr Harris said.
‘That is why the Greens have suggested this voluntary disclosure mechanism, via the City of Sydney website, that could easily be implemented by council for very little cost.
‘This website would also be available to candidates who wished to make it known that they have received zero donations.’
The plan was rejected by Council at their last meeting after Clover Moore’s independent councillors combined with Liberal councillor, Shayne Mallard to use their numbers to defeat the Labor supported Greens’ plan.
“The Greens want to rid our political system from the corrupting influence of corporate donations, especially property developers, by limiting donations to individuals and capping donations at $1000,’ Cr Harris said.
‘Donations from corporations and other organisations would be banned and some public money would be made available to political parties to conduct election campaigns under desired Greens reforms.
“I was hoping that the Clover Moore party councillors would be part of the solution to the corrupting influence of corporate donations,’ he said.
Labor councillor Verity Firth, who seconded Cr Harris’ motion, said her Labor colleagues supported the motion.
“This resolution would have cost Council next to nothing, and was a voluntary program for candidates,’ Cr Firth said.
“I was disappointed that the Lord Mayor and her independent councillors did not support this voluntary program, especially given that she has been so vocal in supporting disclosure and transparency in the past.”
Lord Mayor Moore said the motion was flawed because of a loophole excluding donations to the central party headquarters, which provides candidates with support such as advertising, printing and posters.
She said this would disadvantage independent and individual candidates who don’t have access to centralised party resources.
The Lord Mayor Clover Moore told The City News, the plan to publish details on Council’s website would cost an estimated $15,000 to $20,000 and would allow Council’s resources to be used for electioneering purposes.
Liberal Councillor Shayne Mallard said in the politically heated weeks before an election the Council should not act to create a non compulsory system that shifts the goal posts for some candidates.
Cr Mallard said the motion moved by the Greens would have violated the legal privacy donors are entitled to if they are donating less that $1000.
‘This legal privacy can not be violated by a Council resolution,’ Cr Mallard said.
He said the Liberals have introduced their own voluntary reforms by capping donations for the City of Sydney campaign at $2000. He said their average donation to date is a quarter of that amount.
Labor’s candidate for lord mayor, Meredith Burgmann said she was surprised the proposal was vetoed by Cr Moore and her independents.
“Clover certainly talks the talk on Council accountability, but her actions show she doesn’t walk the walk.
“I thinks it’s strange that Clover and her party shy away so quickly when it comes to genuine, practical solutions aimed at improving transparency in local government”, she said.