Adam Bandt Melbourne, Australian Greens
12:52 pm
I move:
That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent the Member for Melbourne from moving the following motion immediately:
That this House:
(1) notes the Bergin report concerning Crown's gaming operations and its findings of money laundering and criminal activity;
(2) calls on all political parties and candidates to join the Greens and independents in refusing to accept donations from Crown; and
(3) also calls on the Liberal, National and Labor parties to return the almost $2 million in political donations received from Crown since 2000, or to transfer an equivalent amount to a charity or support service that deals with problem gambling.
Crown money is tainted money, and it has—
Adam Bandt Melbourne, Australian Greens
Crown money is tainted money, and it has no place in politics. Big corporations have too much power over politics and politicians, and they exercise that power through political donations. Because these big corporations make political donations to Liberal, Labor and National, decisions get made in this place that are in the vested interests—not for the public interest. We have seen, time and time and time again, good legislation and good reforms that are for the welfare of the Australian people be stymied in this place by politicians who take money and whose parties take money from these big corporations, including Crown casino.
We have seen it in the past, when very, very important reforms being brought by the then member for Denison and now member for Clark to deal with the surge of problem gambling in this country were scuttled. Why?
It is no coincidence that the major parties were taking donations from the gambling industry for years and years and years, and as a result families and people around this country and children continue to be devastated by the effects of problem gambling because the establishment parties in here are on the take. They are taking money from the Crown casino. It is time to get this money out.
Christian Porter Pearce, Liberal Party, Attorney-General
12:55 pm
I move:
That the Member be no longer heard.
Andrew Wilkie Clark, Independent
I second the motion and I observe that the major parties are running a protection racket for Crown casino that we know—
Tony Smith Speaker
The member for Clark will resume his seat. The Leader of the House?
Christian Porter Pearce, Liberal Party, Attorney-General
I move:
That the Member be no longer heard.
Tony Smith Speaker
1:06 pm
The question is that the motion moved by the Leader of the Greens be disagreed to.