Scoop Audio: Burton Unveils Electoral Finance Bill

The Government yesterday introduced a Bill aimed at providing more transparency over election financing the Electoral Finance Bill. Justice Minister explaind the guts of the Bill to the media after the Prime Minister's post-cabinet press conference

The Bill imposes a tight regime on third parties involved in election activities but has drawn criticism from a group set up to campaign for more transparency around the financing of elections - the Coalition for Open Government

Spokesperson Steven Price said in a press statement that the Coalition is particularly alarmed that the bill seems to do nothing to fix the problem of secret donations to political parties.

"There's no cap on how much anyone can give them. They can keep anonymous donations. And it's easy for them to avoid telling us who's giving them anything. They can continue getting money through secret trusts," said Mr Price in a press statement.

Listen To the Justicve Minister Mark Burton brief the media on the Electoral Finance Bill

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Deaf Ears: Speaker On Support For Mojo Mathers

Scoop Audio: In a press conference this afternoon Speaker Lockwood Smith defended his handling of requests for support for profoundly deaf MP Mojo Mathers' participation in Parliament, and said he was "deeply concerned" by the way the issue had been portrayed.

Earlier today the Greens said they had been told they would have to fund support Mathers requires out of their own budget. More>>