Media release – Cassy O’Connor MP | Greens Leader, 23 March 2021

Premier Walks Away From Electoral Reform

It looks almost certain Tasmanians will again go to the polls without knowing which corporate donors are giving how much to the major parties, after the Premier in Question Time today twice refused to commit to electoral reform.

After the 2018 State Election was so thoroughly compromised by gambling industry money, the Liberals embarked on a tepid and slow process of reforming Tasmania’s electoral laws, which are the weakest in the nation.

Now it’s clear Premier Gutwein has abandoned any change.

He wants the status quo and dark money to keep flowing in because it benefits the Liberals.

This is a shameful demonstration of cowardice on the Premier’s part. If he is so certain his government’s policies will appeal to Tasmanians at the next election, he should have the courage to go to the people without the financial support of corporate vested interests.

Ella Haddad MP, Shadow Attorney General, 23 March 2021

Gutwein Government has no intention of addressing Tasmania’s broken electoral donation laws despite fanfare

The Minority Gutwein Government looks set to again break its promise by refusing to commit to bring urgently required political donation law reform before the State Parliament.

Shadow Attorney-General Ella Haddad said it was clear today that the government had no intention of fixing Tasmania’s broken electoral donation laws, despite releasing its report last year with much typical fanfare.

“This was a report that had been kept hidden for more than six months and then was released with bells and whistles,” Ms Haddad said.

“At that time, the Premier told Tasmanians they would act on each of the report’s recommendations.

“But today in Question Time, the Premier would not provide a clear answer on whether the legislation would be debated in the House before the next Tasmanian election.

“The fact is Tasmania has the worst electoral donation laws in the country.

“And the liberal party secrecy around donations has to be cleared up.

“The Premier made it clear today he is unwilling to act and instead is willing to maintain their hallmark secrecy.

“Only Labor has a plan to fix these laws and only a Labor Government will repair these broken laws once and for all.

“Labor’s plan will include caps on spending for all candidates and all parties, the public disclosure of all donations to candidates and parties valued at over $1,000 and a ban on anonymous and foreign donations.”

Media release – Elise Archer, Attorney-General, 23 March 2021

The facts on electoral donation reform

Calls from the Greens and Labor that we are doing nothing regarding electoral reform are wrong. As the Premier confirmed today, we are on track to deliver a new political donation scheme in Tasmania.

It is important that Tasmanians have confidence in our electoral system and we must ensure it applies to everyone who participates in the political process. It’s critical we get these settings right.

Since we released the Final Report of the Electoral Act Review and our Response on the 16 February 2021 we have fast-tracked the development of this legislation, to deliver a political donation disclosure scheme in Tasmania.

We are currently drafting legislation to introduce a new State-based threshold for disclosure of political donation and public funding, at an appropriate level, for both administrative and ‘cost per vote’ support.

The drafting process is well advanced and it is expect this draft Bill will be out for consultation shortly.

This will deliver a fairer, more transparent and modern electoral system for our State.

The reforms we announced were done because increasing transparency and fairness is the right thing to do, to ensure that the public continue to have faith in the outcomes of elections into the future.

Unlike the Greens and Labor, we have a clear plan to create a fairer, more transparent and modern electoral system for our State.