With former Attorney General Elise Archer’s departure, the state government seems less intent than ever in progressing the political donations reform legislation.
This was something that Jeremy Rockliff has said he was committed to along with his former Attorney General.
However, his minority government’s chaos, infighting and instability threaten the passing of these reforms.
The outgoing Attorney General Elise Archer said she did not feel supported by the Premier or her party when it came to these reforms.
It’s now up to the Premier to make it clear to Tasmanians if he is still committed to continue progress of the bill when parliament returns next week.
Tasmania has the weakest political donations laws in the country and, even though the Government’s Bill does not go far enough, they are a step in the right direction and Labor debated them in good faith and they passed the Lower House last year.
Labor is concerned that Tasmanians can have no trust in a government that continually fails to deliver on its commitments and with Ms Archer’s departure political donations reform will disappear without trace like many of the state government’s commitments.
The Liberals need to progress the debate on this important legislation as they promised – and if they don’t Jeremy Rockliff needs to explain to Tasmanians why they won’t.
Josh Willie MLC
Labor Member for Elwick
