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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2023-02-07 Daily Xml
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Political Donation Reform

Mr BROWN (Florey) (15:33): My question is to the Treasurer. Can the Treasurer update the house on the progress of political donation reform and have any recent events contributed to the impetus of reform?

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The Treasurer has the call.

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN (Lee—Treasurer) (15:34): I thank the member for Florey for his question because I know he is keenly interested in this, as are all South Australians, particularly after the events of the last week.

At the recent state election, we made it clear that, on this side of the house, the South Australian Labor Party was committed to implementing donation reform. We want to ban political donations in state politics here in South Australia, and for good reason, because the public needs every tool they can get their hands on to feel more confident in our political process and the people who are elected as a result of political processes.

But, of course, it's only heightened interest in actual political donations. We saw the disclosure of a recent tranche of political donations, including the single highest donor to the South Australian Liberal Party last financial year, a company called Australian Romance Pty Ltd: $445,000—no small beer.

I wasn't familiar with this company. In fact, most people wouldn't be familiar with this company, so after undertaking some research surely it would be clear what a company that donates nearly half a million dollars to a major political party in South Australia was in the business of. Unfortunately, there is no sign of Australian Romance online. There is no website, no social media, no phone number to call to discuss wine exports, and no address to visit Australian Romance Pty Ltd at all. In fact, the only thing that online investigations show is that Sally Zou is listed as the company's director. Ms Zou, of course, continues to be the single biggest donor to the South Australian Liberal Party.

It is unfortunate, isn't it, that the South Australian Liberal Party would accept such vast sums of money from Ms Zou, given her chequered corporate record, including a number of findings against the companies that are owned or controlled by Ms Zou for not paying creditors and not paying employees. In fact, Mr Speaker, you might be interested to know that Ms Zou has donated a staggering $2.4 million to the Liberal Party since 2015 and, of course, we all remember during the 2018 election she infamously tweeted an image of a $1.2 million cheque made out to the South Australian Liberal Party.

However, it seems that, while she has honoured payments to the Liberal Party, the same can't be said for businesses and workers. Most recently, we have seen one Anthony Smyth seek reparations for lost earnings and damages, arguing Ms Zou struck deals with him and related parties to trade commodities including coal with companies including Glencore, but failed to honour her commitments.

But it doesn't stop there. Her company AusGold faced legal action from employees saying they were not paid. They included former mine supervisor Peter Doran, who is owed over $50,000 plus superannuation—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: —which has never been paid. Never been paid.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, member for Florey!

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: Other Sally Zou employees had to go to court and were successful in receiving a default judgement against Ms Zou and were awarded three months of unpaid wages and superannuation. We saw the state's largest cherry grower, Torrens Valley Orchards, have to pursue Ms Zou through the courts for non-payment of $414,000—less than the most recent donation. It is clear we need reform in this area, and it's reasons like these donations from Sally Zou to the South Australian Liberal Party that we are committed to cleaning up.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The Premier and the member for Chaffey are called to order.

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