Peter Whish-Wilson (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 632 standing in my name for today relating to political donations.

Leave granted.

I move the motion as amended:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

(i) the Australian Southern Bluefin Tuna Fisheries Association (ASBTA) recently donated $320 000 to the federal branch of the South Australian Liberal Party, $250 000 of which was donated before the 2013 federal election,

(ii) Fairfax Media reported on 24 February 2015 that ASBTA Chief Executive, Mr Brian Jeffriess said these donations were decided in 2010 after the then Labor Government reduced the tuna quota in 2010, and

(iii) during the 2014-15 additional estimates hearing of the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee on 23 February 2015, the Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Senator Colbeck, gave evidence that fisheries quotas used to be set politically, but are now set by an independent commission, the Australian Fisheries Management Authority, based on science; and

(b) calls on the Liberal Party to return the $320 000 donation to ASBTA as an act of good faith to demonstrate that the fisheries quota system is independent, science based and beyond the reach of political donations.

Notice of motion altered on 3 March 2015 pursuant to standing order 77.

I seek leave to make a short statement.