By Eleanor Wilson
Supporters of Narre Warren North Labor candidate Belinda Wilson can look forward to brushing shoulders with the candidate at an inner-city fundraising lunch at the end of this month.
That is, if they can cough up the $2500 per head price attached.
Tickets to the lunch, to be held in the Rialto Tower on Collins Street, recently appeared on booking website trybooking.com, advertising a “Narre Warren North Fundraising Lunch with special guest Deputy Prime Minister the Hon Richard Marles MP”.
Trybooking records also show Ms Wilson held a similar fundraising event with Treasurer Tim Pallas on Wednesday 12 October.
That lunch came with a slightly more moderate price tag of $1050 per head.
In response to Star News’ questions regarding the hefty price tag attached to the lunches, Ms Wilson said all donations comply with relevant legislation and disclosure requirements.
“My focus is on doing what matters for the people of Narre Warren North – making it free to become a nurse, removing the Webb street level crossing and delivering a massive upgrade to Hallam Secondary College,” she said.
Liberal candidate for Narre Warren North Timothy Dragan said the price of the fundraising lunch shows “that Labor don’t care about actually interacting with the community”.
“I don’t ever want to hear from Labor again that they’re for the working class and the Liberals are for the rich. This fundraiser proves the opposite,” he said.
Reforms made to the Electoral Act in 2018 ban anonymous donations above $1080 and require the donor and recipient to disclose donations above this amount to the VEC within 21 days, which must then be published on the VEC website within seven days.
As of Wednesday 19 October, booking for the advertised Narre Warren North fundraising lunch appeared to be closed.
