Boothby candidate Jo Dyer reveals all pledges above $1000 and calls on other politicians to follow suit

Climate 200-backed Boothby candidate Jo Dyer has revealed all donors who have pledged more than $1000 to her campaign – and says all other politicians should do the same.

Independent Boothby candidate Jo Dyer says she is running her campaign “on the smell of an oily rag” after revealing the identities of donors who have pledged more than $1000.

Her online crowd-funding campaign has attracted 854 donors, amassing more than $96,000 in cash.

She also recently secured a $20,000 donation from businessman Simon Holmes a Court’s Climate 200 activist group.

The largest single donor was celebrated theatre director Michael Kantor, who gave $10,000.

But Ms Dyer says her campaign coffers are shallow in comparison with the major parties.

“Relative to the money pouring in for the major party candidates, our campaign is running on the smell of an oily rag and the passion of our volunteers,” she said.

Ms Dyer urged all political candidates to show the same level of transparency by revealing the identities of those who donate more than $1000.

Independent Boothby candidate Jo Dyer. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

Under current rules, candidates are only required to identify donors who contribute more than $14,500 in one hit.

Ms Dyer called for donations on GoFundMe, which attracted dozens of anonymous benefactors, despite previously saying hidden pledges showed an “astonishing dereliction of ethics and accountability”.

Ms Dyer revealed in a press release Mr Kantor, the nephew of media mogul Rupert Murdoch, had recently made his $10,000 donation.

It was initially listed as “anonymous” on her GoFundMe page, but Ms Dyer has since published the details online.

“All our money is immediately committed to leaflets, corflutes and other campaign collateral, so this donation was a welcome surprise,” Ms Dyer said.

Mr Kantor was the artistic director of the Malthouse Theatre and worked with Ms Dyer on his 2013 debut feature film, The Boy Castaways.

A federal government spokesman said political parties were “subject to a rigorous funding and financial disclosure regime”.

“In recent years, the Coalition has strengthened this regime by banning foreign donations and better regulating third party campaigners,” the spokesman said.

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