17/11/09 11:00 am
Greens MLC Mark Parnell has called on Premier Rann and Opposition Leader Isobel Redmond to immediately ban all donations from property developers in the wake of NSW Premier Nathan Rees’ similar move in that state.
“When favourable Government decisions follow cosy lunches bought by the big end of town there will always be a stench, even if the decision is ultimately the right one,” said Greens MLC Mark Parnell.
“Unless and until the SA Labor and Liberal parties have the courage to say no to developers with fat wallets, the community will quite rightly fear that our democracy is for sale to the highest bidder,” he said.
On Saturday, NSW Premier Rees announced an immediate ban on donations to the NSW ALP from all property developers, with a legislative ban to follow. In August, QLD Premier Bligh banned Labor Ministers from attending intimate party fundraisers.
“Both Anna Bligh in Qld and now Nathan Rees in NSW have started saying NO to developers and their lobbyists. Meanwhile, in our state, developers and their cheque books continue to be welcomed with open arms,” said Mr Parnell.
“From Mt Barker and Gawler to Cheltenham and St Clair, major decisions about the future of these communities are increasingly being made that favour property developers over local residents.
“When the people who make those decisions are members of a party that relies increasingly on big donations from those same developers we have a problem – and without an ICAC our democracy is dangerously exposed.
“With a critical state election just months away, the Greens call on the leaders of both Labor and Liberal to immediately ban donations from developers, as a first step towards a complete overhaul of the political donations system in SA,” he said.
