“Campaign Funding Back on the Agenda” – Peter Mares interviews new Special Minister of State, Gary Gray.
24 September 2010
Once it was clear that Labor didn’t have the numbers to govern alone after the federal election, Prime Minister Julia Gillard went on a charm offensive with the independents and the Greens. She told them that support for her government would mean support for fundamental reforms to the political process: Question Time, the role of the Speaker… It was all up for grabs: an orgy of new paradigms. But while an ostentatious group hug appeared to have sealed the deal on the issue of parliamentary procedure and Speaker independence, Ms Gillard’s promise to tighten Australia’s lax laws on political donations hasn’t attracted the same level of interest. Yet the issue has far-reaching implications and will test the government’s resolve to stick to its undertaking. After all, Kevin Rudd promised plenty but failed to deliver. The man who’ll lead the government charge – assuming there’s a charge to be led – is the new Special Minister of State, Gary Gray.