Opposition misses the point on political donations…again
Opposition leader John-Paul Langbroek missed the point when he accused Labor Premier, Anna Bligh, of being unethical by accepting donations from coal magnate Ken Talbot who is accused of bribing former Labor minister Gordon Nuttall.
The point is ALL big donations, especially those from major companies doing business in this state, bring with them excessive political influence. The two worst areas here are property development and mining but there are many others. Barnaby Joyce’s acceptance of a donation from Cubbie Station whose water entitlements are notorious throughout the Murray Darling being a good case in point.
There is only one answer to ridding this area of the hint of corruption and undue influence: ban political donations from all companies that have significant dealings with government and cap individual donations.
