The Victorian Greens are calling on the Allan Labor Government to immediately introduce laws to cap political donations ahead of Victoria's state election in November as the High Court has ruled that Labor's existing donation laws are unconstitutional.
The Victorian Greens say that Labor has botched these donation laws from the start by including a sneaky loophole that allows Labor and Liberals to collect millions of extra dollars through their 'nominated entity' slush funds.
This dodgy loophole has caused the High Court to throw out Victoria's donation laws entirely, meaning Victoria now has no cap on donations from corporations and billionaires to elections, putting our democracy at risk and allowing big money from the likes of Gina Rhinehart, the gambling and fossil fuel industry to flow to Labor, Liberals and One Nation.
The Greens say that immediate action must be taken, otherwise Labor is allowing big corporations and billionaire donations to influence the state's election later this year.
As stated by the Leader of the Victorian Greens, Ellen Sandell:
"In Labor's desperate attempt to cling onto their political slush funds, Labor have completely botched these donation laws. As a result, the Victorian state election this November could be influenced by multi-million dollar donations from big corporations, Gina Rinehart and other billionaires who want to buy our democracy for their own gain."
"If Labor doesn't take immediate action to cap donations to political parties, they're giving big corporate interests and billionaires free reign to influence this year's state election. We cannot afford to have a system like the United States where billionaires and big corporations can buy politicians and elections."
