OZschwitz: Loophole will leave voters in dark on council campaign donations

VOTERS will not know who has made political donations to hundreds of candidates standing for council elections in September, despite promises made by the Premier, Morris Iemma, to clean up campaign funding.

Candidates who receive political donations after today will not have to declare the source of the funds until well after the September election because of a loophole in new rules regulating electoral-funding disclosure.

Ratepayers who are going to elections for first time since administrators were appointed to clear out corruption or incompetence in Warringah, Tweed, Liverpool and Walgett councils, will not know how the candidates funded their campaigns unless the money has already been raised.

Concern about possible lack of disclosure comes after revelations at the weekend that Auburn Council's relationship with developers is under investigation and it follows the recent Wollongong Council scandal, which prompted a pledge by the Government in February to reform laws governing political donations.

Mr Iemma has promised to introduce bans on donations by property developers.

LNK
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