The latin phrase ‘quid-pro-quo’ refers to an exchange of something of value, for something else in return. You may often hear this in legal arguments, often when discussing potential corruption, but there is a murky area where companies and political entities intersect.

Companies are required by law to act in the best interest of the company and its shareholders. By making a donation to a political party, a company is admitting that they believe they will receive a return on their donated funds. Almost by definition, a company donating to a political party has a conflict of interest.

It’s the literal ‘quid’ in quid-pro-quo.

We at the Science Party believe that there should be transparency in political donations, and by passing funds through different legal entities, the sources of donations are effectively obscured.

The Science Party considers open and efficient government one of the key requirements for effective democracy.

Until the parliament enacts measures that increase transparency in political donations; by reducing the disclosure threshold, and shortening the disclosure period to enforce real-time availability of data; the Science Party will lead by example.

• On principle, we will not accept donations from corporations.
• If contacted by a corporation regarding a prospective donations, we will decline the offer.
• Any online donation made in the name of a corporation will be refunded as soon as possible, and if the donor cannot be contacted for refund, the donated sum will not be used.

Our party relies on the grassroots support of people who believe in the principles we stand by.
Every dollar we spend is donated by someone who wants to make a positive change to society.

To help us continue our work towards a better future, consider making a donation today.

About the Author:

Aaron Hammond is an engineer driven by curiosity and a belief in innovation and knowledge. He has been endorsed by the Science Party and nominated for the federal division of Sydney, running on an platform to bring consistency and sensibility back to politics.