Greens block Hunter developer donation
Newcastle Greens
8 February 2007
Greens block Hunter developer Keith Johnson's donation
The NSW Greens today confirmed that the party rejected an attempt by Lake Macquarie property developer Keith Johnson to donate $1,000 online.
Greens MP Lee Rhiannon said, "We do not take donations from property developers. We have a long running campaign to ban developer donations from our democratic process.
"At 10.23pm on Tuesday night Keith Johnson made an online credit card donation in his own name.
"The very next morning he was quoted in a Newcastle paper as saying he has 'occasionally [given money] to the Greens'.
"Mr Johnson's credit card bill will tell the real story – our Sydney office processed the transaction at 10.43 am today, but after Mr Johnson's name rang a bell with an office worker, the payment was refunded 1 hour and 14 minutes later at 11.57am.
"The Greens donations website, Democracy4Sale, shows the major parties accepted over $18.3 million in donations from property developers since 2000.
"It is clear the Greens spotlight on the power of developer donations is causing discomfort for developers and the major parties, particularly as the NSW election looms.
Greens candidate for Newcastle in the State election, Clr Michael Osborne said, "Unlike the major parties, the Greens are proudly upfront about the donations we receive.
"Anyone can keep an eye on who is donating to the Greens.
"The Greens have committed to continuously disclose donations we receive during the campaign on our election website," Clr Osborne said.
