00:00Getting the balance right, in a bid to level the political playing field.
00:07The principle of removing money from politics is a good one, but its delivery in terms of
00:12execution is hard to get right.
00:15Peter Malinowskis pledged to ban political donations ahead of the 2022 election, and
00:20in June, the government released a draft bill for public consultation, and after months
00:25of negotiations, the Premier now believes he has the support needed to reform how politics
00:31and money collide in South Australia.
00:33This new bill is enhanced and even better when it comes to our pursuit of improving
00:40the integrity around our political process.
00:43The legislation stops donations to MPs, candidates and parties, caps the amount parties, candidates
00:49and third party groups can spend, and increases public funding to make up the shortfall based
00:55on the number of votes received, plus administrative funding, while allowing new entrants and independents
01:00to receive donations of up to $5,000.
01:03The Liberal Party has been part of the consultation and will consider the policy at a joint party
01:08room meeting on Monday night, but the government only needs the support of the Greens in the
01:12Upper House to see it pass.
01:14I think it will strengthen faith in our political systems and also ensure that our parliament
01:21is able to tackle the crises that we face without the influence of vested interests.
01:26One of the biggest concerns of the draft bill was that it might lead to the type of third
01:30party super PACs that wield so much influence on American politics, but by regulating the
01:37expenditure of external groups, the government has gained the support of many of those it
01:42was negotiating with.
01:44We do believe that the legislation now in its amended form, with its inclusion of a
01:49cap on third parties, is a strong mechanism to prevent what we see happening in the US
01:54happening here.
01:55The government knows though that this type of reform may be challenged in the High Court.
02:00It wants the bill passed before the end of the year and for it to take effect on July
02:051, nine months out from the next state election.
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