Governor’s Address in Reply extract – Political Donation Reform

Governor’s Address in Reply | Political Donation Reform Extract | 24 June , 2021

Something not mentioned directly in the Governor’s Address but present in the Government’s commitments for its first 100 days is the long-awaited and overdue political donations reform.  This is a crucial matter when we contemplate public confidence in the integrity of our democracy. 

In March in my reply to the Premier’s Address, I noted the conspicuous absence of discussion in that address of the Government’s commitment to political donation reform.  Indeed, there was nary a mention.  I said in that speech in March it would be a blatant, untenable and unforgiveable breach of public trust should Tasmanians go to the polls again without knowing who has given money to whom.  Lo and behold, we soon came to see why the conspicuous silence was maintained. 

The Government was, indeed, about to call a very early election that self-same week in advance of making any public progress on meaningful political donation reform.  Now we find ourselves post-election with a promise that the reform we have been waiting for since it was first committed to in May 2018 will be brought to parliament apparently in the second half of this year.  How convenient to have skated through yet another state election with entirely inadequate accountability and transparency about who funded that election. 

It has to be placed on the public record at this time, clearly and unequivocally, that this exercise in political procrastination quite bluntly is unacceptable.  It is shameful and it is insulting to the Tasmanian voters.  People are becoming more and more cynical and distrustful of this Government as the political donations procrastination drags on.  It is over three years now since former premier Will Hodgman’s promise following that thoroughly tainted and controversial state election thanks to the corrosive cloud of vested interest’s money flowing into certain campaign coffers at that time. 

After all this time and all these excuses, Tasmanians have a right to expect a nation-leading, platinum-plated proposed electoral funding and donations disclosure reform bill when it is finally released.  It must provide for as close as possible to real time disclosure of political donations as we can possibly achieve.  It must have a transparent disclosure threshold, not the outrageous $5000 amounts nominated by the Premier as part of the ineffectual voluntary disclosure sham with which concerned Tasmanians were fobbed off during the recent state election. 

Other states employ a $1000 disclosure threshold and there would need to be a very good reason indeed presented for Tasmania to adopt any higher disclosure rate than that.  Further, if the new disclosure system requires implementation and maintenance funding and resourcing, then it must receive the full required funding and resourcing.  This is not a cost but an investment in restoring the perception of integrity to our system of governance. 

We know from other transparency mechanisms in this state, such as our RTI system, that no matter how robust on paper, if the necessary adequate funding is not provided to operate the system as designed, it is rendered farcical in its inability to deliver public confidence in transparent and accountable government.  For two consecutive general elections now, this Liberal government has dragged Tasmania’s proud democracy into disrepute.  Time after time we hear of the lack of trust and respect the community holds for elected representatives of all stripes. 

Without swift and decisive transparent action now on political donation reform this loss of public trust and confidence risks calcifying into a crisis of governance in this state.  As elected community representatives, all of us – both in this and the other place – must prioritise a firm focus and pressure on the revitalisation of governance, accountability, integrity and transparency.  Comprehensive, nation-leading, platinum-plated political donation reforms will be one step in the right direction. 

It is with that same intent of revitalising governance accountability and integrity and delivering public confidence that I have tabled that motion this week to establish a joint select committee of inquiry into the conduct of the 2021 state and Legislative Council elections.  We should be making these things a matter of routine so the public can come to have confidence in the way we conduct ourselves with governance in this state. 

Watch or read Meg’s complete Governor’s Address in Reply speech.