In a healthy democracy, all people, regardless of race, religion, gender, identity, wealth or sexual orientation have an equal voice and vote. They play a critical part of shaping law and policy.
In lutruwita/Tasmania, as in many democratic societies, constant vigilance is needed to ensure the foundations of our democracy are strong.
Our ‘Strengthening Democracy’ plan includes a clean-up of Tasmania’s electoral donations, sets rules for truth in political advertising, new Right to Information and transparency laws, captures non-government organisations that receive government funding within these laws, and establishes an offence of misconduct in public office.
You only have to look at the State election campaign over the last few weeks to know these reforms are desperately needed to strengthen the foundations of Tasmania’s democracy.
The campaign began under a cloud of secrecy, with the Liberals refusing to tell Tasmanians about their secret deal with Federal Hotels over the casino tax rate for poker machines, and Labor signing a secret MOU with the pokies lobby. Both parties have said they will declare their donations over $5,000 in real time, but have declared nothing.
Tasmania has a long, sorry history of dodgy deals and corporate cronyism. This State needs change and our plan is the robust, strategic reform needed.
It puts the right of Tasmanians to live in a healthy, vibrant democracy before party politics and vested interests. Strengthening our democracy will help Tasmanian to build back greener and fairer from COVID.
You can read our plan here - https://tasmps.greens.org.au/green-new-deal/strengthening-democracy