Sunday, July 22, 2012

Laws to stop political fundraisers


Labor Prime Minister and Liberal Leader,

We refer to the report by Political Reporter Daniel Wills below and that the new law being introduced for the purpose of banning all political donations must be nationwide.  This measure would ensure that all Australian Citizens are more unequal because they cannot be represented by small political parties of their choice or by independent members of Parliament.

Big parties are always flushed with funds as they are always being backed up by vested interests and they do have clandestine funds supporting them.

It is hypocritical for the Greens who had received the biggest single donation in political history in Australia being now unwilling to support our demand or the demands of minor political parties or would-be independent candidates for elections.  

The two major political parties are taking measures to  ensure their continued survival for the purpose of protecting the interests of the political elites such that the endemic corrupt acts in providing favours to their cronies remains undetected and undisputed.  

Australia has now come to a stage where the two major political parties are only opponents in namesake only.  In order to ensure true democracy, the political system must do something to prop up aspiring independent candidates for election so as to break the impasse created by the major political parties who are creating a monopoly for themselves. 

Under the present system Australia is not a democratic country because there is no law to stop vested interests from making political donations to major political parties and at the same time stifles the emergence of minor political parties and independent political candidates. 

Eddie Hwang
President
Unity Party WA
Phone/Fax: 61893681884
Date: 23-July-2012.
Environmental Friendly - Save the Trees/use email.
UPWA is the only political party that calls a spade a spade.

                                                                                            

Laws to stop political fundraisers

·        Political Reporter Daniel Wills
·        July 19, 2012 12:07PM
·        MINISTERS would be banned from being used as "bait" to win party political donations at high-priced dinners and fundraising functions under proposed new laws being taken to State Parliament.
Under the changes, political parties would not be able to promote the attendance of ministers and special access to them as a centrepiece of fundraising events like those held by SA Progressive Business.
Progressive Business is run by former senator Nick Bolkus as Labor's fundraising arm.
Progressive Business is inviting industry heavyweights to a lunch next Friday at the Hilton hotel featuring Premier Jay Weatherill as the headline act and Small Business Minister Tom Koutsantonis.
Invites have also been issued to a similar evening drinks event on August 2 with Housing and Urban Development Minister Pat Conlon and Transport Services Minister Chloe Fox.
A separate letter selling annual memberships to Progressive Business offers "you and your business the opportunity to host senior government ministers, including the Prime Minister and the Premier, in your boardroom".

RELATED COVERAGE

·        $4m secret donations to Labor and Libs Adelaide Now2 Feb 2012
The top-rated $10,000 membership offers "briefings for up to three company representatives" with ministers.
Greens MP Mark Parnell says his proposed laws would ensure the system was seen to be "squeaky clean".
"Ministers are appointed by the Governor to work on behalf of all South Australians. They should not be used as bait for party political fundraisers," he said.
A Government spokeswoman said the premier and ministers were "very accessible to people engaged in all walks of life as they seek out community views about the future of this state".
"These sorts of functions are one way of engaging in those discussions," the spokeswoman said.
"All tenders for government contracts are subject to a rigorous probity process.
"We will shortly have an ICAC in place which will give the community further confidence."
The spokeswoman said the Greens had received "the biggest single donation in political history in Australia" when they were handed more than $1.6 million by Internet entrepreneur Graeme Wood last year.
The Liberal Party has its own fundraising arm, Future SA, chaired by ex-foreign minister Alexander Downer.
Opposition Leader Isobel Redmond indicated she was unlikely to support the reform proposal.
"It is also academic to talk about controls over political fundraising on any kind of level playing field while trade unions have the freedom to promote any Labor Party cause they choose," she said.