CAPE Woolamai’s Deb Leonard and her supporters are serious about taking Monash at the next Federal Election, to be called any day within the next few weeks.
And if political pundits are correct, it would put Ms Leonard in a position to have a disproportionate impact on what is expected to be a ‘hung parliament’, with neither Labor nor the Liberal-National coalition set to win enough seats on their own.
Ms Leonard has disclosed on her website that she has already received almost $700,000 in donations from more than 400 contributors, which according to veteran Monash MP Russell Broadbent would be seven to 10-times more than any local candidate has ever had at their disposal.
“The most I’ve ever spent personally was $60,000. The Liberals might spend $100,000 here this year, Labor will spend nothing, same with the Greens beyond their how to vote cards which cost about $1500 to print,” said Mr Broadbent.
It’s a record, and counting, that’s unlikely to ever be beaten following sweeping changes to election campaign funding which will come into force next time.
But to put the figure into perspective nationally, fellow ‘Teal’ candidates including Allegra Spender, the Member for Wentworth, representing Sydney’s wealthiest suburbs including Point Piper and Vaucluse, outlaid $2,124,058 on her 2022 campaign, Monique Ryan (Kooyong) not far behind on $2,122,231 and Goldstein’s Zoe Daniel $1.6 million.
It’s all the result of the level of support coming out of Climate 200, “a community crowd-funded initiative” convened by climate philanthropist Simon Holmes a Court, son of Australia’s first billionaire Robert Holmes à Court, which is committed to a science-based response to climate change and restoring integrity to politics.
However, while independents and other individual candidates collectively spent about $21 million at the 2022 federal election, the major parties spent a whopping $418 million, only where that comes from and how it is spent is a lot less clear.
Speaking to the Sentinel-Times this week, Ms Leonard said she had received $364,340 from Climate 200, which in no way impacted her status as a genuine independent.
“They must think I can win it,” said Ms Leonard.
“There is no quid pro quo. They have not asked anything of me. Climate 200 is a crowdfunding organisation that has received donations from over 12,000 individuals. They choose to support candidates that align with their values.
“All my policies are formed directly from feedback from the community, and you can view the feedback on my website,” she said.
As well as the Climate 200 funding, Ms Leonard has attracted a big groundswell of local support with generous donations from named locals and other funds coming from the sale of merchandise.
It’s already been a campaign the likes of which we have not seen in the local Federal electorate, with extensive polling of voting patterns and views, ‘Deb Leonard’ signs and offices going up around the region and an already exhaustive schedule of public meetings… and the election hasn’t even been called yet.
But Ms Leonard’s success in attracting campaign funds, and in attracting public support has also attracted the attention of high-placed opponents.
Liberal Senator for Victoria, the Hon Jane Hume, the Shadow Special Minister of State issued a media release last Friday, February 28 headed ‘Teal hypocrisy on integrity and transparency’ in which she names Deb Leonard, along with three other candidates, accusing them of trying to avoid transparency and “potentially breaking the law”.
“The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) has confirmed that it is investigating at least four companies linked to Teal independent candidates after it was revealed that they were not properly registered as election vehicles,” claimed Senator Hume.
“The four candidates attached to these entities are Erchana Murray-Bartlett candidate for McPherson, Deb Leonard candidate for Monash, Alex Dyson candidate for Wannon, and Susan Chapman candidate for Forrest.”
Senator Hume uses a question-and-answer exchange with AEC Acting Commissioner Jeff Pope, at a Senate Estimate hearing last week, to support her case.
“The lack of integrity that these candidates have shown is seriously concerning. There are serious questions to answer for these Teal holding companies that are avoiding transparency and potentially breaking the law,” said Senator Hume.
“It is the height of hypocrisy to claim to stand for integrity and transparency yet then deliberately avoid the law on electoral integrity and transparency.”
See the full transcript of the “Teal hypocrisy on integrity and transparency” issued by Senator Hume on the Sentinel-Times’ website
Ms Leonard has responded saying all of the donations she has received are being disclosed progressively on her website.
“All my donations are disclosed on my website. In relation to the comments of Jane Hume, I find these incredibly hypocritical. I am disclosing all my donations up front, while the Liberals, Nationals and Labor parties will not disclose any of their donations until well after the election, and even then, will only disclose those over the threshold of $16,900,” Ms Leonard told the Sentinel-Times.
You can view a list of Ms Leonard’s donors on her website at https://www.debleonard4monash.com.au/past_donors
