The Wire

Each year corporations donate millions of dollars to major political parties election campaigns. Following the American tradition of check book democracy, parties that court corporate donations are arguably selling its policies to the highest bidders. Today the liberal party hosted its millennium fundraiser lunch in Sydney where participants were met by a group of demonstrators largely from the NSW Greens, who believe that these practices are conferring preferential treatment to corporate donors. Donors who in affect are buying access and influence that ordinary Australian’s can’t afford. In NSW This has been particularly evident with developer donations affecting decisions on urban planning, housing development and public transport. But the greens argue it is a wider federal issue and are demanding that elections be publicly funded to safeguard the democratic process She-Fah Szetu spoke to Lee Rhiannon, Member of the legislative Council for the greens at todays demonstration.