politicalowl

The Owl is continually bemused by people acting surprised that companies, unions and individuals give donations to political parties in the expectation that it will help them get access to MPs. In my not inconsiderable experience of the election process there is no other reason for such actions. It has always been thus. And for most of my years in politics the process has not worried me. The Australian political system, at least at the federal level, traditionally had the checks and balances of an independent and basically impartial public service. That limited the impact that having the ear of a minister could have. It is only since the transfer of power from departmental officials to ministerial staffers that the excesses of buying influence have got out of hand. A decision by Bill Shorten to return power to departments headed by permanent career heads would make his planned corruption apparatus unnecessary.

It’s not often to hear a politician talk openly and honestly about what is given in return for campaign donations. Full marks then to the former Northern Territory Deputy Chief Minister David Tollner for declaring donations would open his door “if you ever need to talk to me about something”. Speaking on 105.7 ABC Darwin on Friday Mr Tollner said people who did not donate faced “a line-up at the door”, explaining “you have to start prioritising”. The ABC website reports: Mr Tollner said it was “extraordinarily difficult” for political parties to raise funds for campaigning. He said it was “incredibly important” for the democratic system that parties and candidates have the funds to run what he said was a “legitimate campaign”. “But there will always be a question in people’s minds… what is someone donating for?” Mr Tollner said. “When I have talked to people about donating money and the like, the best you can say is ‘your donation will open my door if you ever need...