One of the more intriguing aspects of this discussion is the prevalent assumption that the available funding goes into the coffers of a political party.

Consider for a moment how much would change, very quickly, if campaign funds - from whatever source - were directed at the candidate, who would be individually responsible for accounting for its expenditure.

For a start, we would be observing the "representative" part of the "representative democracy" that we apparently operate.

A party's "central office" would have to survive only by being involved directly in the election of their candidate, rather than simply wallow around in OPM as they do at the moment.

The idea of disallowing or limiting donations to political parties is silly, it also cannot work: what prevents the party members from organizing themselves in a shadow organization such as "The society for furthering the ideas of the XXXXX party", then publishing whatever they like with any amount of their own money they like?

The Government should not reimberse any candidate or party for their campain expenses as they currently do. This would stop a lot of wanton waste by parties on their pre-election campaign.

A cap on electeral expense by a party of $1 per person in the Electorate; not reimbursable would be a suitable cap.

"The Government should not reimberse any candidate or party for their campain expenses as they currently do"

Agreed. A better way is to equip polling stations with tin boxes where electors can drop a gold-coin for their candidates.

The amounts collected will also give us an indication as to how many voters actually like their "representatives" as opposed to those who only select them as the least-evil.

While it could be argued private donations are one's right, so far it appears private donations have done more to erode the rights of others who do not have access to that sort of money or clout.

Would there be any need for donations from interested individuals or groups at all if electioneering was based purely on factual content without the sheen and gloss of political spin in the form of Ads, debates and the like.

What is it we need to know to cast our vote?

Do we really need more of the same ie. politicians telling us what the 'other side' is not doing or doing, we can make up our own minds by reading the various manifestos.