Political Donations and Safeguards Code

The author's aim in compiling this work is to inspire a move towards a long-lasting change to the current political donations and public funding regime in Australia. The work is in three parts. The first part describes how the new process (set out in a 'Code') could be adopted through a constitutional referendum. The author puts forward the view that the proposed change would enable Australians 'to once again live in a democracy that we can participate in'. The second part of the work...
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The author's aim in compiling this work is to inspire a move towards a long-lasting change to the current political donations and public funding regime in Australia. The work is in three parts. The first part describes how the new process (set out in a 'Code') could be adopted through a constitutional referendum. The author puts forward the view that the proposed change would enable Australians 'to once again live in a democracy that we can participate in'. The second part of the work contains the detail of the proposed Code. It takes the form of a draft piece of legislation. At the outset, the author stresses that the model Code 'has not as yet undergone the constructive process of independent review, which it must submit to before a final format of the model can be settled upon'. The third part to the work provides a background discussion regarding the reasons behind the development of the Code. Central to the author's argument is evidence of significant donors who donate to both of the main political parties. This is discussed against evidence that a growing number of Australian's believe it doesn't really matter which of the major parties is in government. Public funding of elections is also examined in this section. A graph, prepared by the author, is included to support the author's argument that public money would be better spent if it were diverted away from candidates, groups and political parties, and directed towards funding a fresh system altogether (and set out in the Code), which would include a 'donation and expenditure processing function' and an 'election material dissemination service'.