THE HON MARK DREYFUS QC
SHADOW ATTORNEY-GENERAL
SHADOW MINISTER FOR THE ARTS
MEMBER FOR ISAACS
THE HON BRENDAN O'CONNOR MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR EMPLOYMENT AND WORKPLACE RELATIONS
SHADOW SPECIAL MINISTER OF STATE
MEMBER FOR GORTON
CORMANN IS WRONG: HE CAN DIRECT AEC
In an effort to make up for the poor performance of Scott Morrison in the House of Representatives yesterday, Senator Cormann has said several times today that he does not have the power to direct an investigation by the Australian Electoral Commission into the NSW Liberal Party's dodgy dealings with donations.
In a letter addressed to Shadow Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus today, Senator Cormann says:
I cannot direct the Australian Electoral Commission to investigate fundraising activities or electoral returns of a specific political party or associated entity.
Clearly Senator Cormann has been too busy running interference for his colleague Arthur Sinodinos to read the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 which he apparently refers to.
It says that the Australian Electoral Commission has as one of its mandated functions:
To consider, and report to the Minister on, electoral matters referred to it by the Minister and such other electoral matters as it thinks fit
According to the Act, electoral matters include those relating to a political party, a branch or division of a political party or a candidate or group of candidates in the election.
The truth is Senator Cormann does have the power to refer the NSW Liberal Party's failure to disclose major donors to the AEC for investigation, he just chooses not to.
He chooses not to because he knows that the future of his colleague and Mr Turnbull's right hand man, Arthur Sinodinos, hangs in the balance.
The government can try and keep the festering mess of the NSW Liberal Party away from Federal Parliament, but it will not succeed for long. If there is nothing to hide, Senator Cormann should not be afraid of a full investigation into this matter.
TUESDAY, 19 APRIL 2016
