The NSW Electoral Commission has blocked payment of $4.4 million in public funding to the Liberal Party because it failed to disclose the identity of all major political donations in 2011.
In a statement, the Electoral Commission said: “The Party will remain ineligible until it discloses all reportable political donations in relation to its 2011 declaration. These donations include some made by donors identified during the Independent Commission Against Corruption’s (ICAC) public hearings in Operation Spicer.”
In particular, the Commission is seeking information regarding the identity of donors to the Free Enterprise Foundation. It says: “Since 11 February 2016, the Liberal Party was given opportunities to rectify its declaration but it declined to do so.
The Electoral Commission’s statement has again brought attention to the Cabinet Secretary, Senator Arthur Sinodinos, who was the NSW Liberal Party Treasurer in 2011. The Opposition has called for Sinodinos to stand aside until the matter is resolved.
The statement from the NSW Electoral Commission is shown below.
