The Victorian Greens say that the asymmetric donations poured into the City of Melbourne's Mayoral race are further proof that we need an inquiry into the local government election.
It follows reports of billionaires, big business owners and property investors with vested interests bankrolling key candidates in the Melbourne Mayoral race, pouring millions of dollars into their campaigns.
It is only now being reported - almost seven weeks after the local government election - that the re-elected Mayor of Melbourne Nick Reece spent nearly $1 million, including tens of thousands of dollars from donors with property interests in the City of Melbourne, including some with pending developments.
This contrasts the Greens candidate for Lord Mayor Roxane Ingleton who came in second after Nick Reece who spent only $31,053 and disclosed donations in real time.
The local government election was on the 26th of October but candidate donations were only made available to the media yesterday at an in-person viewing where photography was not permitted. They will not be published online for the public until the week of the 16th of December.
The Victorian Greens have called for an inquiry into the local government election that would investigate the current donations disclosures rules and the electoral system in the City of Melbourne and across the state.
As stated by the Leader of the Victorian Greens, Ellen Sandell:
"The City of Melbourne's electoral system is deeply undemocratic and unfair.
"Residents deserve to know if billionaires, big business and property investors with vested interests are bankrolling candidates before they cast their vote."
"Right now the system in the City of Melbourne is undermining the will of voters by design and the Victorian Labor government has a responsibility to fix it."
As stated by the Victorian Greens spokesperson for integrity, Dr Tim Read:
"When it comes to the subversion of democracy, the City of Melbourne has it all - double votes for business, votes for absent landlords, group voting tickets and massive donations kept secret during the campaign, obscuring conflicts of interest until it's too late for voters to change their mind.
"It's not right that some people are more equal than others in the City of Melbourne, where businesses get two votes and the rich choose the winner.
"This system desperately needs to be reformed and that's why we want to see an inquiry to ensure that residents in the City of Melbourne, and all Victorians, have the most democratic system possible."
