Donation details - Provision is unacceptable and offensive

IT is difficult not to ascribe ulterior motives to the Government because of its failure to excise a legislative provision that entitles it to, effectively, intimidate charities and campaign groups which may disagree with a particular policy.

That is the glaring inference to be taken from Section 23C of the Electoral Act, which came into effect in January, 2002, and which is giving rise to serious concern for the Standards in Public Office Commission.

So it should, because according to the relevant section, groups which protest against Government policies are being told that they have to divulge bank account details if they receive significant donations for that purpose.