Submission No 83 INQUIRY INTO ELECTORAL AND POLITICAL PARTY FUNDING Organisation: Terrigal Area Residents Association “TARA” Inc Name: Ms Sue Edwards Position: President Telephone: 4385-6020 Date received: 13/02/2008 Terrigal Area Residents Association “TARA” Inc. 2007-08 Officers President: Sue Edwards Vice-President: Ted Sandeman Secretary: Mary Johnsson Treasurer: Ted Edwards P.O. Box 523, Terrigal 2260 Submission by email to:
[email protected] 13 February 2008 The Legislative Council Select Committee on Electoral and Political Party Funding TARA welcomes the Legislative Council of NSW’s initiative on 27.06.07 in appointing a select committee to inquire into and report on the funding of, and disclosure of donations to, political parties, and candidates in state and local government elections. It is disappointing, however, that apart from the media release on 15.11.07 and a call for submissions on 19.11.07 little publicity has been given to this matter. The period 19.11.07 - 15.02.07 (closure of submissions) conveniently some might add, coincided with Federal Elections, Christmas and the January holidays. All media attention is currently on the return to Parliament of the new Federal Government and The Sorry Bill. One must ask the Question: Who could fund the advertising to raise awareness of the people of the Inquiry by this Select Committee into Electoral & Political Party Funding? The Liberal Party? The Labour Party? The Unions? The Development Industry? The Association of Hotels, The Gaming/Racing Industry? The Food Industry? The big Corporations? The answer of course is “NO” because all of the above are either major donors or major beneficiaries of electoral and political donations, and it would not be in their interest.