Reform is no fix: MP

TASMANIA is missing an opportunity to strengthen transparency and integrity because important reforms are being done in piecemeal fashion, Legislative Council MP Meg Webb says.

Releasing her submission to a lobbying review, the member for Nelson said the chance to improve the democratic process was going begging.

“We know we’ve been waiting for years for electoral donation reform legislation to come through so we know who’s donating what to whom; we’ve got this effort to review our lobbyists code going on; we’ve just had it announced that we’re going to be reviewing our Integrity Commission mechanisms,” she said.

“These are all really important, but we should be dealing with them as a suite of measures towards a strong democracy and thinking about how we can bring Tasmania to the front of the pack when it comes to transparency and openness.”

Ms Webb’s submission to the lobbying review highlighted the “passive and opaque system” of regulation she says leaves the state with the weakest rules in the nation.

“Tasmania has got quite a grim history of things being done behind closed doors and the perception that there are interests involved in influencing government decisions that aren’t the community’s best interests, that are in fact delivering for vested interests.

“It’s time that stopped. We can have systems in place, mechanisms of democracy that are strong, that are open and transparent, and really accountable to the Tasmanian people.”

Federal government plans for reforms to electoral donation laws look to outpace legislation tabled by the state government. Special Minister of State Don Farrell wants legislation by mid-2023 to enforce real-time disclosures of all donations over $1000, compared with $5000 and up to three weeks under the state Bill.

Greens leader Cassy O’Connor said the state would end up at the bottom of the pack once more.

“Under all three premiers over the past eight years, the Liberals have been sluggish and tepid on genuine electoral reform. It’s all, and always has been, about their corporate donors,” she said.

“If these amendments pass without further strengthening changes made, Tasmania will still have the most ineffectual electoral donations laws in the country. The Greens are currently drafting amendments.”

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