Medicines Australia Policy on Political Donations

1. As an industry association, Medicines Australia will avail itself of all legitimate and reasonable opportunities to engage with political and government stakeholders. We believe that, when conducted in a legal and transparent manner, pubic policy engagement is an important and appropriate role for companies in open societies. Medicines Australia fully abides by the Australian Electoral Commission’s requirements with respect to disclosure of political donations.

2. Medicines Australia does not provide cash donations to political parties. However, we and our member companies actively engage in policy discussions with political parties including through attendance at conferences, policy workshops, round table discussions and other opportunities which may arise.  Medicines Australia may pay a fee for the attendance of representatives at such events, which may include a political fund raising component.

3. Medicines Australia is bound by the following principles with respect to payments to political parties:

• Medicines Australia will abide by all relevant Australian Commonwealth and State laws pertaining to contributions or donations to political parties, including public disclosure requirements.

• No gifts, money, items or services shall be offered or given directly to candidates for political office, elected politicians or political party officials.

• Medicines Australia will not make direct campaign funding donations (ie. a flat sum of money with no event or access opportunity attached) to either individuals or political parties. 

• The only funding contributions Medicines Australia will make to political parties or individuals are those where a standard payment or fee for service is required to attend a conference, forum or other event which provides an opportunity for access to and engagement with decision-makers or other influential political stakeholders. 

• From time to time Medicines Australia may sponsor events which provide an opportunity to hear from or engage with political stakeholders.

• The choice of conferences, forums or events should be guided by access to decision-makers or potential decision-makers whose area of responsibility or likely area of responsibility is directly related to the policy and regulatory issues which affect Medicines Australia and the innovative pharmaceutical industry in general.

• Medicines Australia should be fully cognisant of the activities that any sponsorship or contribution is supporting and must critically examine these activities to ensure they will successfully withstand reasonable public, professional and community scrutiny, and will not bring discredit on the industry.

• Medicines Australia will seek access to politicians of influence in relation to issues of importance to the pharmaceutical industry across the political spectrum.  The distribution of funds across the political parties for the purposes of participation in political conferences, forums and events should reflect this policy intent.

• Medicines Australia payments to political parties will generally be applied at the national level.