Lawyers Ask For Reforms In Australian Political Donations System

Australian politics has been accused of mafia connections after an independent investigation on political donations. Lawyers are now asking for reforms in laws related to such donations.

The investigation revealed that mafia money might have been used in 2005 to push the then-immigration minister Amanda Vanstone to allow a visa to Frank Madafferi, a senior Calabrian Mafia figure. Madafferi has an extensive crime history in Italy. The Calabrian Mafia, a “ruthless and violent criminal organization,” is a significant factor in the Australian underworld.

The investigation, jointly conducted by ABC and Fairfax, revealed that Madafferi's connections in the mafia had paid tens of thousands of dollars into the Millennium Forum. The fundraising body, which has now been defunct, has a connection with the Liberal Party. Vanstone’s approval of visa to Madafferi came after the donations had been made.

According to Clive Small, whenever the Calabrian Mafia donated money, it expected some favours in return. "The Calabrian Mafia doesn't give anything away. Any penny, any cent they spend is because they expect two cents back," ABC News quoted the former assistant commissioner with NSW Police.

Geoffrey Watson SC from NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption said that there was a need to reform the political donation system in the country. He said that the investigation was a case study of what was “seriously wrong” with the Australian system. "The point is that for no better reason than the making of donations to a political party, specific representations were able to put [Mafia figures] amongst the most powerful politicians in the land -- access which you and I couldn't get except if we made substantial donations ourselves," he said.

Ninemsn reported that Vanstone had declined to comment on the investigation. However, he said that the decision to grant a visa was based on humanitarian concerns about how the family might be affected by Madafferi’s deportation.

According to a report by the Australian Federal Police in 2009, the Australian political donations system has “significant” failings and a "lack of checks and oversight." The report said that the statutory disclosure regime did not always cover the avenues through which political parties and candidates could accept funds.

Contact the writer: s.mukhopadhyay@ibtimes.com.au