If Darren Chester is elected at this weekend's by-election poll, the Greens will hold him to the commitment he made supporting cleaning up political donations.
"At the Bairnsdale Meet the Candidates meeting Darren Chester supported the Greens campaign to reform political donations" said Dr Malcolm McKelvie, Greens candidate for Gippsland.
"The Greens have campaigned for many years against corporate donations to political parties, because this is how big business influences policy", Dr McKelvie said.
"The Nationals are a case in point. Their biggest donors are slush funds, Doogary, Pilliwinks and Donations Club, designed to hide the donors and mask their influence on the party. Their three biggest named donors are Tattersalls, Tabcorp and the Australian Hotelliers Association - all big players in the gaming industry. "
"Maybe this is why Darren Chester has not taken a stand on the huge social and economic cost of electronic gaming machines. Nearly $1M in gambling revenue leaves the Latrobe Shire alone every week. That is money that is not going into local businesses, and money which many people may not be able to afford to lose."
"The Nationals have voted against reducing the number of gaming machines, in Greens bills brought in the Victorian upper house. Their commitment to their donors is greater than their commitment to reducing the harm of gambling in their electorate.
"If Darren Chester really supports cleaning up politics, maybe he should take a new broom to his own party."
For further information please contact: Malcolm McKelvie 0417 364 615
Greens Candidate for Gippsland By Election 2008
