Donation reform is just one legislative amendment which would improve the conduct of elections and democratic processes says the Tasmania Law Reform Institute.
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TLRI director Terese Henning said other amendments which would improve Tasmania's democracy include strengthening provisions around misleading comments regarding candidates and greater transparency regarding ministerial access by lobbyists, including a Lobbying Code of Conduct and the routine publication of ministerial diaries.
"The TLRI supports mandatory disclosure for political donations, and timely and publicly accessible reporting of those donations," Ms Henning said.
"These things are done in other states, and Tasmania can readily adopt similar administrative procedures and IT systems to support real-time donations disclosure.
"The time within which that disclosure should be made, however should be within 21 days of the donation."
Ms Henning said recent High Court cases have confirmed that spending and donations caps can be consistent with the implied freedom of political communication, provided there is evidence to justify the cap.
"Any decision to impose a cap would be supported by a forensic review of the 2018 election," she said.
Emily Jarvie
Emily Jarvie is a political journalist at The Advocate and The Examiner newspapers based in Hobart, Tasmania. Contact: emily.jarvie@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Emily Jarvie is a political journalist at The Advocate and The Examiner newspapers based in Hobart, Tasmania. Contact: emily.jarvie@austcommunitymedia.com.au
