Shorten flags support for donations reform

Opposition leader Bill Shorten says rules around political donations aren't good enough and transparency and disclosure arrangements need to be stronger.

Bill Shorten during the final day the 2015 ALP National Conference at the Melbourne Convention Centre in Melbourne, Sunday, July 26, 2015. (AAP)

Bill Shorten during the final day the 2015 ALP National Conference at the Melbourne Convention Centre in Melbourne, Sunday, July 26, 2015. (AAP) Source: AAP

Opposition leader Bill Shorten has flagged support for a push by independent senators to set up an inquiry into political donations.

Mr Shorten has told Fairfax Media all parties need to take responsibility for donations received from private interests and move towards a more transparent system.

He has also proposed working with Prime Minister Tony Abbott on a program of reforms designed to restore political integrity and public confidence.

His comments follow a Labor resolution to strengthen campaign disclosure and transparency rules at its weekend National Conference.

"All political parties receive private donations and all political parties must take responsibility for reform," Mr Shorten has told the Age.

"The current system just isn't good enough and the most immediate and best way to restore confidence ... is to enhance transparency and improve disclosure arrangements."

NSW Premier Mike Baird will press for an overhaul of national election funding laws at the next meeting of federal, state and territory leaders later this year.

The federal government has been forced to defend its handling of donations following revelations Clubs NSW gave tens of thousands of dollars to Liberal Party fundraising bodies while frontbencher Kevin Andrews was crafting poker machine policy before the 2013 election.

Independent MP Andrew Wilkie says the donations to the Victorian-based Menzies 200 Club, which supports Mr Andrews, were "no better than large sums of money changing hands in a brown paper bag".


Share

2 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world