Don't curb political donations: Howard

Former prime minister John Howard believes curbing political donations would be an attack on freedom of political activity and expression.

Mr Howard expressed concern about limiting donations to a small amount per head, saying inevitably it would result in massive increases in public funding.

"I don't believe that if a company is carrying on a lawful activity it should be prohibited from making a political donation," he said during an address to the National Press Club on Wednesday, adding that not all developers were crooks.