George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

Once again, Senator Di Natale, you really disappoint me. That is a disgraceful innuendo. To suggest that because a political party accepts a donation from a donor—whether it be an individual or a corporate donor—there is somehow a taint of corruption involved is disgraceful. As the High Court of Australia has said, offering and accepting political donations is an aspect of the implied right of freedom of political communication.

The Liberal Party and the National Party accept donations from corporations and persons. So does the Australian Labor Party. We on my side always comply with our declaration obligations under the Commonwealth Electoral Act. I am sure the Australian Labor Party does. Whether you, the Greens, do or not, I do not know, but you are not the hind hand in accepting very large donations yourselves.