Call to ban entities from making political donations

Adam Holmes | Examiner and Advocate newspapers | 5 October 2021  

 Nelson independent MLC Meg Webb wants property developers and gaming, liquor, tobacco and firearms entities banned from donating to political parties.

An independent upper house MP wants Tasmania to have the nation’s strongest electoral donation laws by banning property developers and liquor, gaming, tobacco and firearms entities from donating to political parties.

Nelson independent MLC Meg Webb pointed to laws passed in NSW, Queensland and the ACT banning property developer donations – the first two of which have been upheld constitutionally in the High Court – but for Tasmania to go even broader.

The Tasmanian Government accepted submissions on its electoral law reforms until late last month, which are expected to go before Parliament by the end of the year.

Ms Webb said it was an opportunity for Tasmania to be a nation-leader in transparency in politics, but the draft laws were still the weakest in the country – including only making donations public above $5000.

 She said she chose the property development, firearms, gaming, liquor and tobacco sectors based on their influence over politics in Tasmania, much of which was concealed by an inability to know the scale of political donations.

“There are certain sectors and certain products that we should not even allow for there to be a perception of buying a policy outcome to occur,” Ms Webb said.

“NSW has these, except for firearms. I suggest firearms because I think that’s another area where we wouldn’t want to think there were vested interest influencing government policy.

“At the moment we have a situation where the government is looking to put in place policy and legislation that directly prioritises the interests of that industry – the gaming industry – over the broader interests of the community.”

Ahead of the 2018 state election, the Liberals promised shooters that it would soften gun laws – a promise that was not revealed to voters until it was leaked to the media on the eve of the election. Ms Webb said this was evidence that certain interest groups were favoured by political parties.

The government’s Electoral Act Review from February recommended monitoring similar bans on political donations in other states, “noting the principle of freedom of speech” and to factor in “any future High Court challenges”.

Both NSW and Queensland’s bans on donations from property developers were upheld in the High Court.

Attorney-General Elise Archer said the review of the act provided further guidance.

“We have taken into account the recommendation outlined in the Electoral Act Review Report on this matter, noting the need for caution around other jurisdictional approaches and the potential impact on the implied freedom of political communication,” she said.

View Meg’s submission to the Electoral Disclosure and Funding Bill 2021 Exposure Draft here

See more of Meg’s recent media.