The dirt unit

What the Greens reckon:

Media Release
Nick McKim MHA
Lead Candidate for Franklin

Wednesday, 8 March 2006

LENNON MUST COME CLEAN ON TAXPAYER FUNDED DIRT UNIT

Labor Should focus on Health Crisis, not Anonymous Smear

The Tasmanian Greens today released an email which was sent by Premier Lennon’s Chief of Staff, which included an electronic document created in the Department of Premier and Cabinet which was anonymously faxed to media outlets earlier this week.

Greens Candidate for Franklin Nick McKim MHA said that the email was evidence of the existence of a ‘Dirt Unit’, unknowingly funded by taxpayers, contained in the Premier’s office and run by his Chief of Staff.

Mr McKim said that the Greens completely rejected the implications contained in the document.

“This is prima facie evidence that Paul Lennon’s Chief of Staff is using taxpayer’s money, which should be spent on solutions to Tasmania’s health crisis, to create a Dirt Unit to anonymously and covertly smear Labor’s political opponents,” Mr McKim said.

“If Paul Lennon had the courage of his convictions he would have presented this material himself, like Bryan Green did when he unsuccessfully attempted to smear Sue Napier recently, but instead he has sanctioned a covert smear operation because he knows the information is of no value.

Mr McKim said that Mr Lennon should sack his chief of Staff if he had sent the email.

Mr McKim rejected the content of the email and fax saying that the Greens had complied with all donations disclosure laws.

Mr McKim said that in the 2003/04 year, the ALP (Tasmanian Branch) had received $336 366 in so-called ‘undisclosed’ donations, the Liberal Party of Australia (Tasmania Division) had received $248 381 in so-called ‘undisclosed’ donations, while the Greens had received $257 736.

Mr McKim also said that in the 2004/05 financial year the ALP (Tasmanian Branch) had received over $358 000 in so-called ‘undisclosed donations’, well over the amount attributed in the same category for the Greens in the document created by Labor’s taxpayer funded Dirt Unit.

“Labor’s hypocrisy knows no bounds.”

“Donations under $1500 are not detailed by any party simply because they are not required to be, and for Labor to use covert tactics to attempt to deceive the media shows how desperate they are to hang onto power, despite Tasmania’s crumbling health system.”

“The Greens do not take donations from corporations like Federal Hotels and Gunns Ltd due to their negative impact on our society and environment, so of course the majority of our income comes from minor donors,” Mr McKim said.

Mr McKim said that the Greens had campaigned for years for State based donations disclosure laws, but had been blocked at every turn by Labor and Liberal.

“It is hypocritical in the extreme for Labor to complain about donations when they consistently block the Greens attempts to allow the disinfectant of sunlight to shine on the process.”

“The Tasmanian Greens, like the Tasmanian Liberals, are incorporated as a company because, under Tasmanian law, political parties cannot be incorporated associations.”