Document Actions
Manyana development approval dogged by donations law loophole
Friday 24 April 2009
Greens MP Lee Rhiannon today called on Premier Rees to close a loophole in new electoral laws that allowed Shoalhaven Independents Group councillors to vote on a Manyana development application for a caravan park, despite the developer Malbec donating $2,000 to the group's head office in the lead up to the 2008 local government elections (South Coast Register today).
"This situation highlights a serious loophole in the electoral laws passed last year," Ms Rhiannon said.
"Under new laws, individual councillors who receive donations from developers are blocked from voting on relevant developments, while councillors who are part of a group or party can have the donations sent to head office and vote as normal.
"Although the Shoalhaven Independents Group received $2,000 in donations from Malbec, the councillors still voted on the application, arguing they only had a non-pecuniary interest in the development.
"When these new laws were being debated the Greens pointed out the problem to the government, but it refused to fix it.
"This loophole in the legislation allows developers to skirt around laws designed to increase accountability by donating directly to the head office of a political party or group.
"This is the first example the Greens have seen of councillors exploiting this weakness in new electoral laws, but I doubt it will be the last.
"Despite the government's promises to clean up donations following the scandals that led to the sacking of Wollongong and Tweed councils, we now see that the new electoral laws have seen little change.
"The Premier should immediately move to close this and other loopholes if he wants to convince the electorate that he is serious about cleaning up political donations," Ms Rhiannon said.
For more information: 9230 3551, 0427 861 568
