Liberals stall on tobacco donors

Jennifer Crawley
October 25, 2012
The mercury

GOVERNMENT plans to stop tobacco company donations to Tasmanian political parties were stalled by the Liberals last night but are expected to be passed when Parliament resumes in two weeks.

Debate on the Bill raged in the House of Assembly until almost 10pm yesterday and debate will resume at the next sitting.

The Government is confident the Electoral Act amendments will be passed. However, the Tasmanian Liberals have labelled the amendments to the Electoral Act as unconstitutional.

Liberal Opposition Leader Will Hodgman accused the Government of hypocrisy because of investments in tobacco companies.

“The Government owned Retirement Benefits Fund has significant tobacco investments,” Mr Hodgman said.

Liberal member for Braddon Adam Brooks said the amendments were “a futile attempt to cling to power.”

“Tobacco is a legal product,” he said.

The Labor Green Government had flagged its intention to change the electoral act when it was revealed that the Liberals had accepted donations of $22,000 from British American Tobacco and $15,000 from Philip Morris in 2011.