8 August 2007

Be up front about donations

| Roland GRNS
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Greens Senate candidate for the ACT Kerrie Tucker has called on political
parties to be up front about donations to their election campaigns,
following the public release of the ACT Greens list of donors, and
subsequent comment by Liberal Senator Gary Humphries.

“The Australian Greens policy is to declare all donors who have made total
donations of $1500 or more during the previous twelve months. The ACT Greens
list of donors can now be found on our website” Ms Tucker said.

“The bulk of the donations we receive are from individual members and
supporters of the Greens, and through community based activities.”

“Our largest donation to date has been from an organising fund of the ACT
Branch of the CFMEU (Construction and General Division). Senator Humphries
has attacked me on the basis that Greens and the CFMEU have a very different
approach to forest industries.”

“Unfortunately Senator Humphries doesn’t appear to understand that this
donation came from the Construction Division of the CFMEU – which does not
deal with forestry or mining.”

“The Union plays a very important role in the Canberra community, not only
for its advocacy for workplace safety but through its training of thousands
of young Canberrans over the years and financial support for community
groups. I am pleased to acknowledge its support for my campaign.”

“The Greens are setting the standard for disclosure of political
donations before the election in the ACT, and we look forward to Senator
Humphries, and the Labor Party, following our lead.”

“The Australian Greens support public rather than private funding of
elections, and have consistently campaigned to clean up political donation
disclosure laws.”

“We opposed the Coalition’s recent changes to electoral law which made it
harder to vote, but – by raising the disclosure threshold from $1,500 to
$10,000 – made it easier to donate tens of thousands of dollars to political
parties, anonymously.”

“We believe the public has the right to know, during the election period,
who is giving money to political parties. Yet most large political donations
are only disclosed after the election, if at all.”

“The Greens are quite prepared to be upfront about the source of our
electoral funds. If other parties do not similarly offer full information
about their donors before the election, ACT voters are entitled to ask what
they have to hide” Ms Tucker said.

media contact Roland Manderson 041 2241379

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Left wing I ain’t – What is the impact of a two party system? Why do most the greens come from Tasmania? Because under our system of governemnt 450,000 get 12 senators and 4,1 million queenslanders get 12 senators – so don’t be a complete moron

Slinky the Shocker4:26 pm 10 Aug 07

thedunce: You got anything against democracy? 45% vote Labour, 45% vote Liberal.. The remainder (be it One Nation or the Greens) will help make up the 50% required to make a decision. DEMOCRACY! Maybe you haven’t been taught properly by your left-wing teachers?

“it’s okay to vote green, but remember, they will never, ever have any power whatsoever. The best they can hope for is the balance of power in the senate.”

WHAT IS SO UP FRONT ABOUT USING (ABUSING) A SYSTEM THAT ALLOWS YOU TO “DEAL” YOURSELF INTO NATIONAL RELEVENCE ON 4 to 5% of the NATIONAL VOTE??????? BUT THEN THE GREENS HAVE FORM IN ABUSING SYSTEMS, LIKE PUBLIC HOUSING

Another Dem’s supporter, 45 to go Thumper.

not me, i vote for whomever i recognise on the ballot sheet.

Any Labor stooges post here?

Glad Roland cleared that up – it sounded suss at the time. And Pierce, no, I belong to no political organisations.

Tucker’s been too busy walking around the carpark near her office looking for something on the ground – maybe a lost cheque from the CFMEU?

Tucker has never posted here has she ?

There’s probably a reason in that first sentence as to why she’s not bending backwards to meet sandwich’s demands.

Yeah, Labor probably did vote for it as well (not that it would have made any difference if they hadn’t)

As for Tucker not posting herself, I find it encouraging that she has more to do than sit around chewing the virtual fat all day.

Slinky the Shocker12:38 pm 09 Aug 07

“it’s okay to vote green, but remember, they will never, ever have any power whatsoever. The best they can hope for is the balance of power in the senate.”

This argument as a deterrent works everywhere else, but is bullshit here, because of the preferential voting system. Unlike in America the vote is not lost in Australia

Didn’t the Labor Party vote for the change in the threshold as well?

And why isn’t Tucker posting herself? Seems like she wants to hide behind someone else…

“it’s okay to vote green, but remember, they will never, ever have any power whatsoever. The best they can hope for is the balance of power in the senate.”

Errr, holding the balance of power in the senate constitutes having power I’m afraid!!

“They’re not “upfront’ at all!, I refute that comment totally.”

Care to elaborate!? And are you implying that Labor/Libs ARE upfront!?!?

News Radio were reporting this morning that the Govt has been buying up a shirtload of tv advertising slots in October and early November.

I think the lease on Howard’s campaign office also expires in early November

re Radio National: As it is a personal comment, I’d better respond.

When I rang the ABC I identified myself as to the producers as asomeone who works for the Greens, but I was not (and still aren’t) a spokesman.

I don’t know who I-filed is.

I would prolong the announcement until January 19, then set the campaign period for as long as possible.

No way, I reckon after APEC, little Johnny wants to dress up with his big important friend George and play world leader, ooh how exciting for him getting to play with the big boys!

I reckon November, otherwise October (less likely).

Mr Howard might give us the opportunity to have our vote soon, given the 3 year anniversary of the last election is looming, but I wouldn’t hold my breath waiting for him to do anything decent or honest.

No announcement until after APEC.

That’s a long memory you have i-filed – I’m assuming you don’t have any similar affiliations because the irony would be beautiful.

I would gently point out that in order to refute something you need to go further than just gainsaying it.

That’d be the Roland who phoned Australia Talks Back on ABC Radio National during the last election – passing himself off as a simple member of the public while commenting on the campaign as plain ole “Roland from Canberra” – without identifying himself as Roland Manderson, Greens spokesman. That alone demonstrates that he is not a trustworthy voice.

this is a perfect example of why I intently dislike the greens, despite being a nature lover and a frequent visitor to our NPs.
They’re not “upfront’ at all!, I refute that comment totally.
Mainlinar put it better than I could, but I love to have my say.

At least they are being upfront about it, you’ve gotta give it to them there.

The others only disclose a long time after the election, as is required by law.

At least this way you get to know what you’re getting before you vote.

Pierce, its so they’re donating friends don’t get hand cramps from writing cheques for $1499.99 over and over again, keeping it under the threshold and anonymous

the reason the CFMEU will be donating to Kerrie is because the ALP are very unlikely to get a second senate seat for the ACT, so the next best chance is to get Kerrie to knock gazza out of his, the enemy of my enemy and all that stuff

Why did the Libs change the donation declaration threshold by more than 500%?

Congratulations Roland on possibly the most transparent thing the Greens have done all year.

I don’t care who donates your money, as long as it doesn’t aggresively change party policy.

Ant Pant, that’s American policy your touting, last time I checked we were so far up their ass it’s not funny, but we haven’t quite gotten to the stage of their overzealotry over allegiances with terrorist organisations.

Hence why Mambo Hanif is now in India, and not here expecting another 5 years in a Guantanamo style holding pen.

Well I guess we’ll see whether it had any effect when the Greens do or don’t start voting in favour of old growth logging, won’t we?

DarkLadyWolfMother3:18 pm 08 Aug 07

That’s actually a tricky one. With a large organisation the various branches can be quite separate – the point of having different objectives. I have no idea if that’s the case with the CFMEU.

It’s still in the ‘suspect’ category, however.

Ooooo…touchy! Methinks she doth protest too much :p

Also: “Senator Humphries doesn’t appear to understand that this donation came from the Construction Division of the CFMEU – which does not deal with forestry or mining”… so if I take a donation from the Accounting wing of Al Qaeda, I’m not condoning terrorism?

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