The Tasmanian Greens today tabled an amendment Bill which seeks to introduce a state ban on political donations from tobacco corporations, following last week’s acknowledgment by both Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott that such donations are no longer acceptable.

Greens Leader Nick McKim MP said that now the State Liberal Director Sam McQuestin has also confirmed that the Tasmanian Liberals would adopt Mr Abbott’s no tobacco donations policy, it is logical for the proposed legislation to receive tripartite support.

“Tasmania does not need to wait to see who is in the Lodge following next month’s federal election before taking action to formalise the position, now shared by all three parties, that Big Tobacco donations are no longer acceptable,” Mr McKim said.

“A recent ABS Australian Health Survey 2011-12 shows that Tasmania has the highest smoking rate across the states at a massive 23.2% compared with the national average of 18.1% for current smokers as a proportion of the population.”

“Tackling our tobacco rates is a serious public health issue facing the state, and Tasmanians deserve leadership from their elected representatives.”

“Formalising via legislation the current policy position of now all the three parties represented in the Parliament sends a positive and strong message to the community that Big Tobacco has no hope of influencing current or future public health policy.”

“There is also no reason now for the Legislative Council to block this move again, as they did last year despite the House of Assembly passing legislation which contained this donation reform.”

“This is an important legislative initiation which will ensure an equal playing field for all candidates and parties intending to contest Tasmanian elections.”

Mr McKim also reiterated the Greens’ position that comprehensive state-based political donations reform, requiring real time disclosure and expenditure caps, should be prioritised prior the next state election.

Download Copy of the Electoral (Prohibition on Corporate Tobacco Donations) Amendment Bill 2013, tabled by Nick McKim MP:

Aug29_Electoral-Tobacco_donations-_Amend_Bill_2013_N_McKim_ATTACH.pdf
Nick McKim MP Greens Leader