Big Tobacco should butt out of the political process - Brown

The Australian Greens will move to amend electoral laws to ban donations to political parties by tobacco companies, Greens Leader Bob Brown said.

“We hope the Government’s proposed plain-packaging legislation, which the Greens support, gets through soon. The Greens will also move to ban donations to political parties from tobacco companies,” Senator Brown said.

“The few brave Liberals, who are about to cross the floor if necessary to stop the glossy advertising on cigarettes, should be applauded. But it doesn’t need to stop there. All parties should also stop taking donations from Big Tobacco.”

“The Australian Greens don’t accept donations from tobacco companies and Mark Latham should be applauded for putting a stop to the ALP’s acceptance of donations from tobacco companies back in 2004.”

Attached amendment to be moved to the Commonwealth Electoral Amendment (Political Donations and Other Measures) Bill 2010: