http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-09-29/tobacco-firm-donations-move/3036380?section=tas
Tasmania’s Lower House has taken a step towards banning political donations from tobacco companies.
A motion was introduced yesterday by Greens MP Paul O’Halloran.
He told the House that last year the Liberals accepted more than $7,000 from British America and $6,000 Phillip Morris.
“Donations do not come without the expectations of political favours,” he said.
But the Opposition’s health spokesman Jeremy Rockliff rejects the claim the Liberals are influenced by the tobacco giants.
He said the Opposition had previously introduced legislation to curb high smoking rates.
“It’s more than clear that the Liberal Party positions at both a state and national level are not affected by who our party accepts donations from.”
The Liberals voted against the motion, but it passed with the support of the Government.