In a damning assessment of Australia's political landscape, veteran journalist Michelle Grattan has sounded the alarm on what she describes as a fundamental distortion of democracy. The Labor Party, despite its rhetoric about creating a level playing field, stands accused of perpetuating a system where big money continues to wield disproportionate influence.
The Great Australian Political Hypocrisy
While Labor positions itself as the party of fairness and transparency, Grattan reveals how the government has quietly abandoned its commitment to donation reform. The promised legislation that would cap donations and increase transparency has mysteriously vanished from the political agenda.
The uncomfortable truth? Labor has become exceptionally skilled at playing the very game it claims to want to reform. The party's fundraising machinery now rivals – and in some cases surpasses – that of their Coalition counterparts.
Big Money's Corrosive Influence
Grattan paints a concerning picture of how wealthy donors are essentially buying political access and influence:
- Major donors gain privileged access to ministers and decision-makers
- Corporate interests can effectively shape policy outcomes
- Ordinary Australians' voices are being drowned out by big money
- The playing field becomes increasingly uneven for smaller parties and independents
The Transparency Charade
Current disclosure requirements create what Grattan describes as a "transparency illusion." The disclosure threshold remains absurdly high at $16,300, meaning countless donations fly completely under the radar. Even when donations are disclosed, the information often emerges months after elections, rendering it practically useless for voters.
"The system stinks," Grattan writes, "and everyone in politics knows it."
Labor's Convenient Amnesia
What makes this situation particularly galling is Labor's historical position on donation reform. The party that once championed cleaning up politics now seems perfectly content with a status quo that benefits its own fundraising efforts.
Special Minister of State Don Farrell, who holds responsibility for electoral matters, appears to have developed a sudden case of reform amnesia. The government's inaction speaks volumes about its true priorities.
The Way Forward for Australian Democracy
Grattan argues that meaningful reform must include:
- Significantly lowering the donation disclosure threshold
- Implementing real-time donation reporting
- Introducing reasonable spending caps for elections
- Creating a truly independent electoral commission with real teeth
Until these changes happen, Australian democracy will continue to operate with what amounts to an institutionalised corruption that favours the wealthy and well-connected.
The question remains: when will a government finally put principle above political advantage and fix our broken system?
