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The Good, The Baird, The Ugly
NEVILLE –
As early as tomorrow the NSW upper house could pass some game-changing anti-corruption reforms put forward by the Baird Government that could help limit the influence of big money. But wrapped inside that tonic is a bitter poison pill. Under Premier Baird’s proposals, political parties could spend up to $18,600,000 on an election. Anyone who is not a politician – including non-profit organisations like GetUp, Amnesty, environment groups, unions, and think-tanks – are capped to just $250,000. If these proposals get through politicians will get to spend 73 times more than people who band together to take collective action. It’s still possible to get the good reforms we want, and strip out this provision that quiets the voices of those outside the political system, by getting it changed in the upper house. The parties could meet as early as this evening to set their positions. Labor is set to oppose the new disproportionate spending cap. We also hear that the Shooters, Fishers Party and the Greens are leaning against it, which is enough to get it out – but they’re not there yet. Expenditure limits for political parties are good policy. The idea is to limit the amount parties can spend, so they have less need to fundraise huge sums and be tempted by corruption to raise them. It makes sense to introduce similar limits on other organisations too, to prevent them from becoming an alternative channel for big money to flood politics – but setting a cap of 1% as much as parties goes too far. Politics is too important to be left to politicians. Despite what they may think, elections are not just about them. And the ability of outside groups, and everyday Australians, to participate fully in elections is an important check on the politics as usual of our system – helping to “keep the bastards honest”. https://www.getup.org.au/CollectiveAction We want everyone to have a chance to have their say, even if they don’t feel inspired to do so through existing political parties. Help get the reforms we need, without the poison pill of disproportionate spending caps. Thanks PS – You might be asking ‘isn’t it important to limit the power of lobby groups – like those for pokies, coal or other special interests – and stop them taking over?’ Yes. It absolutely is. The main way that should be done is to cap how much a person, or organisation can give to a political party and third parties. In NSW there is already a cap on how much a person, business or other organisation can give to ‘third party organisations’. It’s $2000. A system structured like this can strike a balance between allowing people to participate, and protecting us against corruption. A millionaire cannot donate millions but millions of Australians can donate relatively small amounts. PPS – A real reform that would make a difference is requiring third parties to only spend money in elections which has been given to them explicitly for that purpose. The mining lobby could only spend $1000 campaigning in the election if a donor gave them $1000 to do so (rather than the CEO of the mining lobby deciding). A union could only spend a $1000 campaigning in an election if one of their members asked them to do (rather than the union leader deciding what to do with members’ money). That sort of reform would actually do something to take power away from a powerful few and put it back in the hands of ordinary citizens.UGLY |
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