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O'Farrell denies backflip on donations

NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell has denied he's ditching his political donations reforms despite reports the government is accepting corporate cash.

File photo of NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell
NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell has denied he's ditching his political donations reforms. (AAP)

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Source: AAP


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NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell says he isn't abandoning his thwarted political donations reforms by accepting contributions from corporations.

The government passed laws restricting political donations from corporations and unions in early 2012, arguing the reforms would stop third-party groups from buying elections.

Last December, Mr O'Farrell vowed not to be deterred in his effort to "stamp out corruption" when the High Court found the NSW laws invalid.

But the NSW Liberal Party has now started accepting political donations from corporations ahead of next year's state election, Fairfax Media reported on Tuesday.

Mr O'Farrell said accepting corporate donations wasn't hypocritical because the NSW Liberal Party were simply obeying the law as it stands.

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"My colleagues will abide by the law while we review the options to try to put in place again our reforms to political donations," he told reporters in Sydney on Tuesday.

He said the reforms were still being revised, but could not say when they would be formally reintroduced.

"The next step is to review the legislation and try to affect the changes ... in a way that won't be struck out by the court."


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