Election donation laws need urgent change |
Election donation laws need urgent change
April 15, 2026 — 5:00am
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In three interviews over the past year and half, Melbourne Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece has refused to reveal the donor for a proposed fountain in Argyle Square, Carlton. On the surface, this denial of disclosure would seem confounding, and slightly bizarre. It is, after all, merely a fountain. But The Age this week revealed possibly why Reece was reluctant to do so.
The money behind the fountain would be coming from the Marcocci family, whose property holdings include the La Storia development on Argyle Square. The family are property developers who donated to Reece’s lord mayoral election campaign. They also own land in the Macaulay precinct in North Melbourne. Melbourne City Council is examining whether to compulsorily acquire it.
The Macaulay planning scheme amendment was exhibited from August 1 to September 10. Reece at the time was acting lord mayor. On August 6, he vowed to take no donations from developers for his election campaign. In announcing he would run for lord mayor, Reece told a council meeting: “I have declared myself a candidate in the upcoming election. One of the first........