The annual February festival of lampooning the largest visible donor lulls Australians into a false sense of security that there is a functioning political donations disclosure regime in place.
Australia is among the one-third of countries that allow foreign political donations.
AAP/Mick Tsikas
The struggle for political equality has shaped Australian democracy. But it’s undermined by having a political donations system that benefits the rich at the expense of other Australians.
Michael Courts, The Conversation and Wes Mountain, The Conversation
Check out our interactives showing the total donations to Australia’s major parties in 2015-16, who the biggest donors to the parties were, and how donations to parties have changed in recent years.
Malcolm Turnbull’s rumoured personal donation to the Liberal Party was not disclosed as part of the AEC’s donation disclosures for 2015-16.
AAP/Lukas Coch
Disclosures add to transparency. They allow us to follow the money and scrutinise who has made large donations. But mere disclosure does not remedy the inequity in Australia’s current system.
Malcolm Turnbull has suggested the political donations issue is complex.
EPA/Made Nagi
There are a few necessary ingredients for the effective regulation of any political donations system.
Queensland independent Peter Wellington backed Annastacia Palaszczuk (left) to form government after she promised to act on political donations.
Dan Peled/AAP
At long last, Australia has a government that is prepared to introduce real-time disclosure for political donations – a crucial change that lets voters make an informed choice at the ballot box.
Politicians often argue lobbying is going to happen anyway, so there’s little harm in demanding donations from those seeking their time.
Shutterstock
Our political donations disclosure regime is so opaque, we don’t really know who’s paying how much and what they get in return. But the lengths players go to hide donations gives cause for suspicion.
Australia’s two major political parties are highly dependent on contributions from business by the standards of other rich democracies.
AAP/Lukas Coch
Every time there’s a scandal involving political finance, politicians from unaffected parties talk about the public’s outrage. But how much do people actually care?
The struggle for political equality has shaped Australian democracy. This is undermined by a fragmented political donations system that can be easily evaded.
I don’t care if it’s national or local, it’s blocking my drive.
PA/Chris Radburn
Friday’s COAG meeting is a perfect opportunity for politicians to govern in the public interest: and that should start with reforming political donations.