Sarah Hanson-Young (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes comments made, on 5 December 2017, by the Acting Special Minister of State (Senator Cormann) that the current regulatory regime surrounding foreign donations risks the 'inappropriate foreign interference in our democratic system'; and

(b) orders that there be laid on the table by the Acting Special Minister of State, by no later than 6.30 pm on 7 December 2017, documents relating to all donations to the Liberal Party of Australia and state branches, made between 1 January 2015 and 5 December 2017, by Chinese national Ms Sally Zou or by entities owned or operated by her.

Jacinta Collins (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a brief statement.

Scott Ryan (President, Special Minister of State) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Jacinta Collins (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Labor will be supporting this motion. I note that Labor has raised questions in the past about the close relationship between the Chinese companies of Ms Sally Zou and the South Australian Liberal Party. It has also raised concerns with Ms Zou's Julie Bishop Glorious Foundation, to which the foreign minister feigned ignorance. Labor supports real-time disclosure and has repeatedly stated it would support a disclosure regime that publishes as quickly as technology allows.

For over a year Labor has had a bill before the parliament to ban foreign donations and reverse the Howard government's changes by reducing the donations disclosure limit to a fixed $1,000. For over a year Labor has had a bill before the parliament to ban donation splitting between branches, ban the receipt of anonymous donations and link public funding to expenditure. For over a year Labor has had a bill before the parliament to introduce new offences and increased penalties for those who seek to breach these laws. It's time for this government to act. (Time expired)

Question agreed to.