Call to ban developer donations

P R OPERTY d e v e l o p e r s would be banned from making political donations to Tasmanian council candidates if independent federal MP Andrew Wilkie was drafting the state’s legislation.

Mr Wilkie has called on the State Government to change the Local Government Act in time for the 2022 council elections to allow for greater transparency around donations.

He said Tasmania had Australia’s weakest political donations laws. A record 481 candidates across the state will run in local polls next month.

“There are no requirements for candidates to disclose donations from anyone,” Mr Wilkie said.

“Local government elec- tions are very important and representatives are tasked with making big decisions about the future of our state. That’s why it’s so important to make sure the community know who is paying for candidates’ election campaigns.”

He said Tasmania was “dragging behind” other states when it came to donation transparency and the State Government should follow Queensland’s lead by placing a ban on contributions from developers.

“Development is such a sensitive issue in places like greater Hobart, and we need to make sure we make planning decisions without outside interference,” Mr Wilkie said.

The Huon Valley Residents and Ratepayers Association supported Mr Wilkie’s stance and said it had invited all local candidates to voluntarily disclose their donations through its website.

“If the State Government won’t ask for candidate donation disclosure, we will,” said the group’s public officer Patrick Synge.

“Local government is often the first step on a political career and this lack of appropriate regulation invites unscrupulous operators to legally game the system.”

Voters in the Huon Valley will be electing councillors for the first time since the council was sacked in 2016.

The State Government said a “wholesale review” of the Local Government Act was taking place.

jack.paynter@news.com.au