Panel of Experts – Political Donations

27 May 2014 • Department of Premier and Cabinet

The NSW Government supports improvements to political transparency and accountability that are in the long-term interests of the state.

The Panel has been established in response to public concern over the influence of political donations on the integrity of government decision-making — concern that has been heightened by ICAC's recent public hearings in relation to Operations Credo and Spicer. The ICAC is investigating allegations that certain members of Parliament and others corruptly solicited, received and concealed payments from various sources in return for favours, and solicited and failed to disclose political donations from companies, including prohibited donors, contrary to the Election Funding, Expenditure and Disclosures Act 1981 (NSW).

The Panel members (PDF, 39 KB) are Dr Kerry Schott (Chair), former Labor Deputy Premier The Hon. John Watkins and former Liberal Shadow Attorney General Mr Andrew Tink AM. The Panel members have been appointed by Letters Patent issued by the Governor.

Documents

  1. Andrew Moran - Individual (PDF, 154 KB)
  2. Dr Joo-Cheong Tham - University of Melbourne (PDF, 155 KB)
    1. Dr Joo-Cheong Tham, Supplementary Submission (PDF, 2.2 MB)
    2. Dr Joo-Cheong Tham, Roundtable Follow up to Expert Panel (PDF, 596 KB)
  3. Professor George Williams - Gilbert and Tobin Centre of Public Law, University of New South Wales (PDF, 173 KB)
  4. Peter Donovan - Individual (PDF, 156 KB)
  5. Professor Anne Twomey - University of Sydney (PDF, 247 KB)
  6. Professor Graeme Orr - University of Queensland (PDF, 381 KB)
  7. Marilyn Long - Individual (PDF, 154 KB)
  8. Dr Iain McMenamin - Senior Lecturer, School of Law and Government, Dublin City University (PDF, 197 KB)
  9. Alan T Fredericks - Individual (PDF, 1.31 MB)
  10. Keith Kelly - Individual (PDF, 152 KB)
  11. The Honourable Peter R. Graham Q.C. - Individual (PDF, 155 KB)
  12. Patrick Synge – Funding & Disclosure (Inc) (PDF, 189 KB)
  13. Confidential
  14. Shayne Higson – Voluntary Euthanasia Party (PDF, 107 KB)
  15. Charles Matthews – No Parking Meters Party (PDF, 83.1 KB)
  16. Anthony D'Adam – Individual (PDF, 63.9 KB)
  17. Dr David Solomon AM - A/Queensland Integrity Commissioner (PDF, 2.11 MB)
  18. Australian Labor Party, NSW Branch (PDF, 147 KB)
  19. Adam Johnson - Individual (PDF, 207 KB)
  20. Dr Anika Gauja & Professor Rodney Smith, University of Sydney (PDF, 182 KB)
  21. Jane Oakley - Individual (PDF, 63.2 KB)
  22.  Hunter Communities Network (PDF, 64.7 KB)
  23. Bruce Hawker - Campaigns & Communications (PDF, 157 KB)
  24. Bret Walker SC - individual (PDF, 526 KB)
  25. Confidential
  26. Peter Morris - Individual (PDF, 334 KB)
  27. F Majeed - Individual (PDF, 82.7 KB)
  28. Annie Morris Wieland - Individual (PDF, 128 KB)
  29. Stop Coal Seam Gas Blue Mountains (PDF, 144 KB)
  30. Susanne Rix - Individual (PDF, 92.4 KB)
  31. Baz Thrower - Individual (PDF, 118 KB)
  32. Nicola Bludau - Individual (PDF, 163 KB)
  33. Eddy Hearns - Individual (PDF, 92.6 KB)
  34. Antony Green - ABC Election Analyst (PDF, 109 KB)
  35. Charmian Eckersley - Individual (PDF, 79.8 KB)
  36. Richard Stanford - Individual (PDF, 174 KB)
  37. Confidential
  38. Greg Stiles - Individual (PDF, 92.8 KB)
  39. John Robertson MP - NSW Leader of the Opposition (PDF,, 2.66 MB)
  40. The Greens NSW (PDF, 188 KB)
  41. Urban Development Institute of Australia (PDF, 325 KB)
  42. Rodney Cavalier (PDF, 252 KB)
  43. NSW Electoral Commission (PDF, 2.97 MB)
  44. NSW National Party (PDF, 380 KB)
  45. Confidential
  46. Unions NSW (PDF, 551 KB)
  47. Alex Greenwich MP (PDF, 238 KB)
  48. Urban Taskforce (PDF, 167 KB)
  49. Alexander Reid - Individual (PDF, 2.64 MB)
  50. Narelle Stiles - Individual (PDF, 139 KB)
  51. Roger Pearson - Individual (PDF, 159 KB)
  52. Confidential
  53. Nature Conservation Council (PDF, 586 KB)
  54. Senator David Leyonhjelm - Liberal Democratic Party (PDF, 81.2 KB)
  55. The Law Society (PDF, 558 KB)
  56. The new Democracy Foundation (PDF, 176 KB)
  57. Confidential
  58. Greg Piper MP (PDF, 995 KB)
  59. Foundation for Alcohol Research & Education (PDF, 380 KB)
  60. Lock the Gate Alliance (PDF, 516 KB)
  61. Leong, Hazelton & Tello (PDF, 422 KB)
    1. Shane Leong Supplementary Submission (PDF, 337 KB)
  62. The Dame Pattie Menzies Liberal Foundation (PDF, 166 KB)
  63. Confidential
  64. Confidential
  65. Burwood Community Voice (PDF, 192 KB)
  66. Confidential
  67. Reno Aprile - Individual (PDF, 89.9 KB)
  68. Confidential
  69. Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union (PDF, 446 KB)
  70. Dr Simon Longstaff AO - St James Ethics Centre (PDF, 521 KB)
  71. Edwin Chen - Individual (PDF, 105 KB)
  72. Public Relations Institute of Australia (PDF, 453 KB)
  73. Associate Professor the Hon Dr Ken Coghill - Monash University (PDF, 154 KB)
  74. The Accountability Round Table (PDF, 326 KB)
  75. Christian Democratic Party (PDF, 365 KB)
  76. Australian Cyclists Party (PDF, 843 KB)

Terms of reference

The terms of reference (PDF, 52 KB) require the Panel to report to the Premier by 31 December 2014 on options for long term reform of political donations, including whether or not it is feasible and in the public interest given all considerations (including legal, constitutional and others) to provide full public funding of State election campaigns.

The Panel delivered its final report to the Governor and the Premier on 24 December 2014.

The NSW Government provided its response to the Panel’s final report on 5 March 2015.