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Liberal documents reveal election fears as donations dry up
By Max Maddison
Internal NSW Liberal Party documents have revealed that fundraising struggles and “perceived dysfunction” could create a “significant impediment” to contesting the federal election competitively, with senior figures warnings falling membership numbers may force a reduction in staff.
End of financial year documents submitted to the party’s state executive in late June came with a caution from the division’s treasurer, Mark Baillie, who said the party was “not currently well placed to fund an effective campaign”.
“Particularly as there is a risk that EAC [Electoral Assistance Committee] targets will not be met and a reduced headcount at the secretariat may result in reduced resources,” internal minutes obtained by the Herald state.
“He further observed that perceived dysfunction through widespread media coverage is not conducive to fundraising and unless dealt with, they will pose a significant impediment to the division’s ability to contest the federal election competitively.”
While Baillie noted the party was “solvent, prudently managed and in a sound financial position”, fundraising statistics provided to state executive members underlined his concerns.
Total contributions for state EACs (party delegates in each seat tasked with fundraising and manpower resources) was just half of the 2019-2023 electoral cycle target of $2.16 million. The situation was even worse for federal seats, with Baillie reporting less than 20 per cent of the target for the 2022-25 election cycle would likely be achieved, compared to 97 per cent during the last five election cycles.
Federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said big business was no longer an ally of the Liberal Party.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
The NSW Liberal Party was contacted for comment.
“Mr Baillie further observed that the EAC program represents about one third of the division’s state and federal campaign revenue, excluding public funding,” the minutes state.
“Mr Baillie noted that reduced EAC contributions result in a reduction in campaign funds for key seat campaigns necessary to win government, as well as to the secretariat’s administration costs.”
The party’s faltering fundraising figures come a year after federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said big business was no longer an ally of the Liberal Party, claiming “a lot of CEOs” were closer to Labor and the Greens.
In early July this year, Dutton also attacked the country’s biggest companies for their support of the Yes campaign for an Indigenous Voice to parliament. Singling out resource giants BHP and Rio Tinto and conglomerate Wesfarmers, Dutton accused chief executives of “craving popularity” and “trying to please people in the Twittersphere”.
With a federal election approaching rapidly, Baillie put to state executive there was no consequence for electoral conferences that fell short of fundraising targets, saying a “traffic light” system to measure performance could help create accountability.
Baillie said while fundraising subscriptions were a “little more optimistic” than in the preceding financial year, they remained below levels “seen in years prior”.
One senior Liberal source who spoke on the condition of anonymity downplayed the fundraising issues, saying the party was “oversubscribed” on recent events and business was coming back into the fold.
Before the state election a slew of retiring ministers had created major fundraising issues for the Liberal Party, with only a handful of MPs hitting their targets, including then Treasurer Matt Kean.
The party’s problems weren’t confined to fundraising, with Baillie noting the challenges associated with the “slow decline in party membership numbers”, including the “ability to fund the secretariat” and “fewer volunteers to call upon at elected time”.
Despite targeting NSW, the Liberal Party lost six seats across the state at the 2022 federal election, as teal independents and Labor benefitted from a widespread backlash against then prime minister Scott Morrison.
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