Will Abbott reform donations culture?

"Tony Abbott's appearance at the Millennium Forum today raises questions about his willingness to clean up the Liberal Party's fundraising culture," said Ms Rhiannon.

"I challenge Tony Abbott to declare his position on banning donations and his commitment to reforming both federal and state funding and disclosure laws.

"Tony Abbott's renewed election vigour will demand some huge fundraising in the lead up to the 2010 federal election.

"Will Tony Abbott be travelling around the country raising corporate donations for his election fighting fund?

"The Federal and NSW Liberal party branches have accepted over $115 million in donations over the past 10 years.

"They continue to take money from big tobacco companies, who have donated over $1.3 million to the Liberal party since 1999, including $144,200 last year.

"In NSW opposition leader Barry O'Farrell has staked his leadership on cleaning up the culture of donations, but his party's actions today indicate it is business as usual.

"The Millennium Forum is the fundraising arm of the NSW Liberal party launched by John Howard in 1999 to dig the party out from under a $3.5 million mountain of debt.

"Property developers, banks, hoteliers and tobacco companies are just some of the corporations that will donate to the Millennium Forum in coming months.

"Recent NSW reforms contain loopholes that allow property developers to use shelf companies, associated entities and inter-state transfers as vehicles for funnelling developer donations to the major parties.

"There is an urgent need for reform of the entire electoral funding system, including banning corporate donations, to undo the damage to our democracy.

"Tony Abbott needs to come clean on donations," said Ms Rhiannon.

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