Cash-for-access scandal in OZ? “Quite likely”
In a rather prophetic 2010 electoral speech, British Prime Minister David Cameron warned lobbying would be “the next big scandal”. It is. And now he’s at the centre of it.
In a series of recent revelations, Cameron has admitted to hosting wealthy donors at private dinners in his Downing Street home. The issue raises some important questions regarding political donations and lobbying in Australia. Just how transparent is it? Dr Norman Thompson is the former director of Democracy For Sale, a project that monitors Australian political donations. He says there is regulatory room for a cash-for-access scandal to happen in Australia. Calliste Weitenberg spoke with Dr Thompson about the mirky world of political donations and how regulation compares to that of our mother country.