THE Tasmanian Liberals have questioned the need for a ban on political donations from tobacco companies, despite dumping the practice almost two years ago. The party vowed in August 2013 to no longer accept donations from cigarette makers, following instructions from then-federal opposition leader Tony Abbott. The self-imposed ban came despite the Liberals being the the only party to oppose state-based legislation to outlaw donations from tobacco firms the previous year. Now, Liberal Party state director Sam McQuestin has probed the reasons for refusing tobacco money in a submission to Legislative Councillors examining the Electoral Act. "No case has been made for why donations from one legal product should be banned but others not," Mr McQuestin said. "For example, why no ban on alcohol, or gaming, or fast foods, which also have negative health and social effects?" Mr McQuestin claimed denying industries selling legal products the option of donating to political parties was driven by self-interest and ideology. "The suggestion that some industries are less worthy of an opportunity to participate in this process is nothing more than Labor and Greens seeking to remove sources of support from their political opponents," he said. The Tasmanian Liberals received $11,000 in donations from tobacco giant Philip Morris last financial year, while Labor stopped receiving cigarette maker donations 11 years ago and the Greens never accepted them. The state government said yesterday it would not accept tobacco firm donations again in the future, but ruled out backing a legislated ban. ''It should be up to individual parties to decide if they don't want to accept donations from a particular source,'' a government spokeswoman said. Labor state secretary John Dowling told MLCs tobacco company donations must be banned, arguing the practice jarred with legislative reforms aimed at restricting use of the product. ''It would be inconsistent for any state-based political donation and disclosure reforms to allow for political parties and candidates to receive donations from tobacco companies,'' Mr Dowling said. Greens justice spokesman Nick McKim went further, calling for an immediate ban on donations from tobacco, gaming, liquor and property developers.
Liberal Party state director Sam McQuestin has probed the reasons for refusing tobacco money in a submission to Legislative Councillors examining the Electoral Act.
THE Tasmanian Liberals have questioned the need for a ban on political donations from tobacco companies, despite dumping the practice almost two years ago.
The party vowed in August 2013 to no longer accept donations from cigarette makers, following instructions from then-federal opposition leader Tony Abbott.
The self-imposed ban came despite the Liberals being the the only party to oppose state-based legislation to outlaw donations from tobacco firms the previous year.
Now, Liberal Party state director Sam McQuestin has probed the reasons for refusing tobacco money in a submission to Legislative Councillors examining the Electoral Act.
"No case has been made for why donations from one legal product should be banned but others not," Mr McQuestin said.
"For example, why no ban on alcohol, or gaming, or fast foods, which also have negative health and social effects?"
Mr McQuestin claimed denying industries selling legal products the option of donating to political parties was driven by self-interest and ideology.
"The suggestion that some industries are less worthy of an opportunity to participate in this process is nothing more than Labor and Greens seeking to remove sources of support from their political opponents," he said.
The Tasmanian Liberals received $11,000 in donations from tobacco giant Philip Morris last financial year, while Labor stopped receiving cigarette maker donations 11 years ago and the Greens never accepted them.
The state government said yesterday it would not accept tobacco firm donations again in the future, but ruled out backing a legislated ban.
''It should be up to individual parties to decide if they don't want to accept donations from a particular source,'' a government spokeswoman said.
Labor state secretary John Dowling told MLCs tobacco company donations must be banned, arguing the practice jarred with legislative reforms aimed at restricting use of the product.
''It would be inconsistent for any state-based political donation and disclosure reforms to allow for political parties and candidates to receive donations from tobacco companies,'' Mr Dowling said.
Greens justice spokesman Nick McKim went further, calling for an immediate ban on donations from tobacco, gaming, liquor and property developers.
