Money out. People in.
$28.6 million. That's how much politicians and their parties took in donations in the last financial year. The most incredible part? It was a slow year!
Time and time again we see politicians put the needs of most people behind the wants of those at the top.
It's time for that to change. It's time to bust up the cosy relationship between politicians, their parties and their funders.
How do we fix this?
There's an election due around six months from today. That election brings a big opportunity.
The opportunity to kick out the people who are wrong and vote in people who are right.
The first step in the campaign is to see who's worth voting for. So for the first campaign action, we're organising this open letter to the party leaders and Independents signed by people like you.
The more people adding their name to the open letter, the more the party leaders will see that there are votes to be won and the more likely they are to commit to reform. This will only work if you step up.
1. Stopping corporates and wealthy individuals from being able to buy influence, by capping the amount of money that can be given to a politician or party at low levels (say $1000)
2. Banning donations from foreign companies and individuals
3. Letting the sunshine in by requiring all major donations to be disclosed, including those from dodgy fundraising bodies (currently donations under $13,000 go undisclosed, and many donations can be reported more than a year after they're received)
4. Breaking up the cosy relationship between lobbyists and politicians, by banning Members of Parliament and senior staff from lobbying for three years after they leave
5. Creating a watchdog with teeth, to make sure those who break the rules face the consequences. NSW has the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) – but Federally (and in most states) there's no equivalent.
Once we see who's worth voting for, the campaign steps up. We'll back parties and Independents who champion reform and campaign against those that fail to do so.
In 30 days, we will launch a public campaign, targeting swinging voters, backing in parties that champion and commit to reform and campaigning against parties that don't.
Add your name to the open letter and we'll keep you in the loop with the next steps in this campaign.
In 30 days, we will launch a public campaign, targeting swinging voters, backing in parties that champion and commit to reform and campaigning against parties that don't.
Add your name to the open letter and we'll keep you in the loop with the next steps in this campaign.
Because independents and smaller parties will not form Government they don't have the power to implement all their policies. After most elections they do have the power to champion one or two issues.
Because of this will not be good enough for smaller parties and independents to simply say they support the changes. To receive support independents and minor parties will need to commit to championing these policies and putting them at the top of their agenda.
Because of this will not be good enough for smaller parties and independents to simply say they support the changes. To receive support independents and minor parties will need to commit to championing these policies and putting them at the top of their agenda.
ADD YOUR NAME TO THE OPEN LETTER
Dear Party leaders,
It's time for a roots and all review of political donations. We call on you to:
1. Cap the amount of money that can be given to a politician or party
2. Ban donations from foreign companies and individuals
3. Improve transparency by requiring all major donations to be disclosed, including those from dodgy fundraising proxies
4. Ban Members of Parliament from lobbying for three years after they leave office; and
5. Create a corruption watchdog with teeth
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