SA Election 2018: Nick Xenophon’s SA Best party to charge successful candidates $59,000 to be part of the party

NICK Xenophon will charge successful candidates close to $60,000 by the end of their first term in State Parliament just for the privilege of being part of his SA Best party.

SA Best leader Nick Xenophon. Picture: AAP / Morgan Sette

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NICK Xenophon will charge successful candidates close to $60,000 by the end of their first term in State Parliament just for the privilege of being part of his SA Best party.

Hopeful candidates have to hand over $1000 to simply be considered by SA Best, plus a further $20,000 if chosen to run, and then five per cent of their MP wages if elected.

State Parliamentarians earn a minimum of $190,000.

It means the total that a SA Best MP would need to hand over to the party by the end of their first four-year term is $59,000.

Mr Xenophon has also confirmed he has stepped aside from his $1500-a-week part-time job with Senator Rex Patrick who replaced the party leader in Federal Parliament when he quit to run for Hartley.

Mr Xenophon had been under fire since The Advertiser revealed he had accepted the lucrative part-time job while he was devoting much of his time to campaigning.

“I did it for two weeks, I was working double the hours and it wasn’t practical. Then I did a few casual hours but I haven’t done any this week,” he said.

“Rex doing such a great job, the transition was easier than expected.”

Nick Xenophon says the SA Best policy is consistent with the major parties. Picture Simon Cross

The former senator admitted on ABC radio in November he expected his fledgling party to score up to $900,000 from the taxpayer as a result of the number of votes it would likely win in March.

The South Eastern Times, which obtained the internal party material, reports that SA Best pocketed $16,000 from a round of interviews with potential candidates late last month.

It also reports the total amount SA Best required to be handed over could be as much as $100,000.

The deed, also sighted by Advertiser.com.au states: “The amount or proportion will not exceed 10 per cent of his or her base Parliamentary salary”.

But Mr Xenophon told Advertiser.com.au that must be a “typo”.

“It should be 5 per cent. That figure is consistent with the major parties,” he said.

Mr Xenophon said federal candidates had not been asked to shell out $20,000 upfront but did contribute 5 per cent of their salaries.

“We’re running on a shoe string. It’s to help pay for having a tiny office and support staff not making the taxpayers pay for it,” he said.

“The terms of the deed are the same (for state and federal candidates) but because in terms state campaign this is the reality it costs more to run in seats and we want it to be better resourced.

“The nomination fee ($1000) has been refunded to people who weren’t successful. That is digressional.”