A temptation worth resisting - weakening political donation rules

Corporate democracy, where those with money can buy privileged access to ministers, and their influence is related to the amount of money contributed, is increasingly on the nose.

There is growing awareness that donations to political parties detract from the democratic process. Former ALP federal president Carmen Lawrence, former Labor NSW secretary Eric Roozendaal and NSW Liberal whip in the Legislative Council Don Harwin are all on the public record criticising the present regime on party donations.

But come July 1, the Coalition leadership - no doubt envisaging another Menzies era stretching ahead of them for decades - could well be tempted to lock in a funding regime that favours their donors.

The Liberal hierarchy should follow the example of Lend Lease and the other multinationals that have deserted the party donors club, and ask themselves whether changing the electoral disclosure laws will be worth the controversy and accusations that will be generated.

On July 1 the Liberals will have the power to change the laws; but they won’t have the power to change people's cynicism about the unsavoury influence donations have on the political process.