… while Labor and Liberals laugh all the way to the bank
The Tasmanian Greens today in parliament called on State Labor and Liberals to return donations received from Gunns Ltd now that the former CEO and Managing Director, John Gay, has been convicted of the criminal offence of insider trading.
Greens Forestry spokesperson, Kim Booth MP, said that Labor and the Liberals had for at least the last decade received substantial donations from Gunns Ltd, which has since fallen into receivership at the expense of investors, contractors and farmers.
“Given the massive losses suffered by so many investors, contractors and farmers there is a moral imperative for both the Liberals and Labor to now return those political donations for distribution,” Mr Booth said.
“Gunns was a rogue company that haemorrhaged over $1billion of people’s money. Labor and the Liberals should now act in an ethical manner and at their earliest convenience return all of the political donations that they accepted.”
“Political parties should not feel comfortable about receiving donations from companies that have not operated in good faith or individuals who have subsequently been charged under the criminal code.”
“Considering the catastrophic demise of the company, surely the money that Labor and the Liberals received should now be returned to those who lost money dealing with Gunns Ltd.”
“Labor and the Liberals should feel embarrassed that they have, at times, had an uncomfortably close relationship with Gunns Ltd, especially during the time the former CEO was at the head of the company.”
“Receiving donations from the coffers of a company that has caused so much pain for so many Tasmanians, and in the case of the longreach pulp mill was determined to act against the best interests of Tasmania’s clean, green brand, is a very bad look.”
“If the money is not repaid, are we to interpret this to mean that the two old fashioned parties are happy to receive money from companies that are morally and financially bankrupt?”
Kim Booth MP Greens Forestry Spokesperson
