Unions Consider Legal Challenge To Electoral Funding Laws
14 September, 2011
Unions will launch a legal challenge against the NSW Government's electoral funding legislation if it passes in its current form.
The laws are worse than initially expected and would strip unions of their capacity to campaign for the rights of working people.
Unions NSW Secretary Mark Lennon said the laws represented a fundamental assault on the political expression of working people.
"If these laws pass in their current form, unions will be unable to run campaigns such as Your Rights at Work, which was instrumental in restoring the hard won advances of working people over the last century," Unions NSW Secretary Mark Lennon said.
"The O'Farrell Government is deliberately tilting the rules in favour of wealthy individuals who have the individual capacity to donate money to political campaigns.
"Should these laws pass in their current form we will mount a legal challenge."
The legislation would stop peak bodies like Unions NSW levying its affiliates for funds in an election environment.
Mr Lennon said fundamental principles such as freedom of association and political expression were at stake.
"Just last week, 35,000 working people gathered in the Domain to express their frustration with this Government's attack on public sector workers and a short time later we see another attack on their rights.
"Working people have always achieved their political aims through collective action and with these laws, the O'Farrell Government has sought to silence us.
"I call on all members of the Upper House to reject these laws."
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