Another SFO referral

Christchurch Mayor and former Labour MP Lianne Dalziel has been referred to the Serious Fraud Office over her attempt to launder local election donations. So, three of the biggest scams used by parties to launder donations and hide who is influencing them - donation splitting, trusts, and auctions - are now actively under investigation. Which ought to send a message that continuing to use those scams is risky and potentially invites prosecution. The question is whether our institutionally corrupt political parties can stop themselves, or whether politicians will have to go to jail before they clean up their act. And given their reluctance to engage with the issue of reforming the system, I think its probably the latter.