George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

The fact is that the sentiment that former Senator Johnston has expressed, or at least that you have attributed to him, is the same view that I have expressed, earlier in question time, and the same view the Prime Minister himself holds, which is why the government has moved to ban foreign donations and ban the introduction of foreign money into the Australian political process, not just through donations to political parties but through donations to third-party political activists as well, something that I thought the Labor Party was meant to welcome, but apparently—it seems from your question, Senator Kitching—that is not so. The fact is that hitherto it has not been against the law of Australia to receive donations from foreigners, as long as those donations have been disclosed. As I have said before, I am very confident that all donations received by the Liberal Party or the National Party have been disclosed.