Senator BOB BROWN (Leader of the Australian Greens) (10:15 AM) —On the matter of the Greens support for this amendment to not have tax deductibility for every $1,500 that is donated to political parties: when you look at the taxation system, what happens when a person donates $1,500 to whichever political party is that they save roughly $600 in taxes. That is, the rest of the unsuspecting public puts in $600, because that is what is forgone in taxes. That is why we oppose that provision. It is, as Senator Fielding said, a different matter for charitable groups, for church groups, for unions and for business. I might say that, as far back as 1996, the last inventory I saw—by Lauren Van Dyke—showed that the corporate sector was advantaged by more than $10 billion a year in tax deductibility and in government grants and support out of the public purse.

Senator Ferguson —That was from the Labor Party in 1996.

Senator BOB BROWN —Well, it has gone up way beyond that since then, Senator—thank you for drawing our attention to that. It is up around $15 billion a year now, and that is something that needs to be looked at. The debate always comes back to charitable groups, environmental groups or church groups, but the real advantage goes to the big end of town. The real advantage in this legislation will also go to the big end of town—the Liberal Party donors. You cannot tell me that this legislation is not putting the advantage of the existing government at the forefront. It comes out of the Prime Minister’s office, this legislation. All of it is written—

Senator Ferguson —That seems to be your favourite phrase.

Senator BOB BROWN —I’m sorry?

The TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN —Just ignore the interjection, Senator Brown.

Senator BOB BROWN —Yes, it might stop them, Chair. The fact is that the government members opposite are baying because I am on the money here. They not only want to cut young people’s ability to make late enrolments because, more and more, they are voting for the Greens; they also want to ensure that, when it comes to their support base and the money that rolls in to the Liberal Party, maximum tax deductibility will apply and—worse than that, I think—that secrecy will prevail. We debated that issue last night: $90,000 can come from an organisation under this insidious system without there being any public record of it. It is our job to try to sensibly ensure that our democratic system is more open and accountable than that.

I also want to respond to Senator Abetz’s rabbiting on about the Greens opposing small church groups being involved in the election process. Of course we do not; we support it. But we need it to be an open and identifiable involvement, not a covert matter or a matter of collusion or deception—lying to the Australian public, which is what the Exclusive Brethren engage in.

The TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN —The question is that schedule 4 stand as printed.

A division having been called and the bells being rung—

The TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN —Order! Could I confirm that there were two voices calling for a division?

Senator Murray interjecting—

The TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN —There was just one voice?

Senator Murray —There was just one voice.

The TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN —I retract that call for a division.

Question agreed to.