Crisafulli defends donations

BROADWATER MP David Crisafulli has told parliament he has never received a political donation in which the donor expected a favour from him as a politician.

Mr Crisafulli has launched a scathing attack on Greens MP Michael Berkman after he presented a Political Donations Amendment Bill which would prohibit donations from for-profit corporations.

“There are times when we might not like where our political opponents are receiving their money from – whether they are unions, whether they are individuals or whether, member for Maiwar (Mr Berkman), heaven forbid, they are a business that is employing people and paying taxes,” Mr Crisafulli said.

“We might not like the fact that they are making that donation, but in a democracy we should be prepared to accept that that is good for our democratic process. I have had the privilege of serving my community at two levels of government, and I have never once had a single person, business or anybody who has made a donation to me seek to leave a favour on the back of that donation – not once.

“I have a theory that when people make a donation to the political process they are attempting to buy good government rather than buy a government. That is my view. I might not like where those opposite get their money from and I might not like some of the member for Maiwar’s policies, but in a democratic society we have to accept that is part of the process.”

Mr Crisafulli described The Greens as “a party warped in looniness”.