Greens leader in the Senate Larissa Waters will introduce a private members Bill when parliament resumes to stop political donors from being awarded Commonwealth contracts, including the likes of Big 4 consulting firms.
The Fairer Grants and Government Contracts Bill would ban political donations for 12 months before and after any contract tender or application was made.
Senator Larissa Waters, Greens leader in the Senate and spokesperson on Democracy said:
“Money shouldn’t be able to buy government contracts, development approvals, political access or political influence. Yet it’s clear that’s what years of donations has been getting for organisations like PwC and the rest of the Big 4 and it’s legalised bribery.
“The Big 4 donated more than $4.3 million to both sides of politics over 10 years, and secured $8 billion in government contracts over that same time period – work that could and should largely be done by a strong, independent public service.
“When parliament resumes, the Greens will introduce a bill to ensure that organisations seeking government contracts or approvals are not able to donate to political parties for a year on either side of that application. The Greens would still like to cap all political donations at $1,000 per year, but we are proposing this Bill as an urgent measure that should receive multipartisan support.
“Trust in politicians and our democracy remains at an all time low. We need to do everything we can to ensure Parliament is more transparent, and ending dodgy donations is a good place to start.
“Stopping donations effectively buying lucrative government contracts, or environmental approvals, will encourage decisions to be made based on merit, and help reinstate public trust in our political system.
“Rather than relying on public relations exercises by corporate entities like PwC, Labor needs to show some leadership and put an end to these unfair and undemocratic donations, once and for all.”
Senator Barbara Pocock, Greens spokesperson on Public Sector said:
“Australians deserve a well-resourced public service that is not hollowed out by voracious private contractors, and that is making decisions in the interests of the community, not vested interests and big donors.
“It is only when we stop large political donors from using their donations promises to secure favours, like contracts, or approvals, or access to decision makers, that we will see our system work in the public interest.
“The Big 4 should not be able to further entrench their power and influence over government, and their profit margins, by making political donations, and certainly not when they are tendering for a government contract.”