Helen Haines (Indi, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

I second this bill and commend the member for Clark for its introduction. As an independent, transparency and integrity are at the heart of what drives me and the people who put me here. Political access and influence should never be for sale. I'm proud to disclose the names and the amounts of every single donation I receive above $1,000 every financial quarter. That includes smaller cumulative donations from the same person that, together, total over $1,000. I'm also committed to disclosing the names of anyone who cumulatively donates more than the Australian Electoral Commission threshold of $14,500 within five business days. This bill would hold us all to a similar standard.

The publication of AEC returns earlier this month show how urgently we need to reform political donation laws. Recent analyse by the Centre for Public Integrity found that over $1 billion in financial contributions, or about 35 per cent of all donations going to the major parties, came from unknown sources in the last two decades. What's more concerning is that Australians will have to go to the ballot box none the wiser on what donations the major parties have received since they filed their returns.

I thank the member for Clark again for his leadership, and I commend this bill to the House.

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