The "corrosive influence" of political donors in NSW will be targeted under a raft of reforms the Baird government is taking to the upcoming election.
Premier Mike Baird announced on Friday that he supported "in principle" all but one of the 50 recommendations made by respected public servant Dr Kerry Schott in her report into political donation laws.
"We are determined to clean up politics in NSW and I thank the panel for guiding us on further ways to limit the corrosive influence associated with political donations," Mr Baird said in a statement.
Under the reforms Mr Baird is taking to the March 28 election, political parties and candidates will have to give real-time, online disclosures of pre-election donations they receive.
Election spending by third-party campaigners, such as unions and business groups, will be also cut.
But the government isn't supporting a key recommendation that an independent body be established to approve any increases to taxpayer funds given to political parties.
Mr Baird launched the Schott review last year after revelations before ICAC of alleged systemic rorting of donation law before the 2011 state election.
The scandal forced 10 Liberal MPs to the cross benches, with some choosing not to re-contest their seats, and ended the political careers of Hunter MPs Tim Owen and Andrew Cornwell.
Mr Baird said recent events at the corruption commission showed the system was "broken and the public wanted it fixed".
"We are determined to clean up politics in NSW and I thank the panel for guiding us on further ways to limit the corrosive influence associated with political donations," the premier said.
Dr Schott's expert panel in December rejected a total ban on donations and said a move to full public funding of campaigns in NSW would not be viable.
Opposition Leader Luke Foley said he supported setting up an independent body to preside over increased public funding to political parties.
He also questioned why Mr Baird rejected the idea.
"Has Mike Baird been told what to do here by the faceless men of the Liberal Party?" Mr Foley, a former backroom Labor operator himself, told reporters.
Mr Foley, who is also a former union boss, suggested he'd support decreasing funding caps for third-party campaigners, such as unions.
Share
