Boothby independent candidate Jo Dyer in talks to join Simon Holmes a Court’s Climate 200 group
Independent candidate Jo Dyer is in talks with activist Simon Holmes a Court over a “modest donation” to her campaign to take the marginal Liberal seat.
State Election
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Independent Boothby candidate Jo Dyer is hoping climate activist Simon Holmes a Court will soon make a “modest donation” to her federal election campaign, which boasts hundreds of donors, including former Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s chief adviser.
Ms Dyer has approached Mr Holmes a Court’s Climate 200 group, which is intent on toppling Coalition MPs in several key seats across the country, about receiving a donation “over the next few weeks”.
Mayo MP Rebekha Sharkie was recently added to Mr Holmes a Court’s band of climate-change fighting independents as she received a one-off $75,000 donation to set up a renewable energy grant fund in her electorate.
Ms Dyer said Climate 200 was doing “important work to help level the playing field for independent candidates taking on the might of the major parties”.
“And as such, I have had a conversation with them about the possibility of securing a modest donation some time over the next few weeks,” she told The Advertiser.
“If they decided to do so, it will represent only a small minority of our overall campaign budget.”
Ms Dyer, who is going up against Liberal candidate Rachel Swift and Labor’s Louise Miller-Frost in the crucial battleground of Boothby, has so far raised $76,732 from 777 donors on her public GoFundMe page.
Among the top donors listed on her page include a person named Bill Vickers, who contributed $5000, and globally recognised art figure Michael Lynch AO CBE, who donated $1500.
Bruce Wolpe, who served as Ms Gillard’s chief of staff when she was Prime Minister, made a $450 donation.
“I have known Jo and am proud to support such a courageous person and what she stands for,” Mr Wolpe said.
Finance Minister Simon Birmingham previously branded Ms Dyer as “Labor to the core”, although she denied any collusion.
Mr Holmes a Court, the son of billionaire businessman Robert Holmes a Court, has cashed up 16 independents so far, and has plans to raise up to $20m to campaign against Coalition MPs.
Among the candidates include Allegra Spender, the daughter of late fashion designer Carla Zampatti, in her attempts to prise Wentworth from Liberal MP Dave Sharma’s hands.
Mr Holmes a Court most recently threw his support behind sitting Centre Alliance MP Ms Sharkie, donating $75,000 to establish the Mayo Community Renewables Fund.
Ms Sharkie kicked in $25,000 of her own personal savings to launch the $100,000 grant round.
Addressing the National Press Club in Canberra last month, Mr Holmes a Court insisted he had no influence on who independents side with in the event of a hung parliament this year.
Climate 200 has more than 8000 donors that are backing pro-climate action, pro-integrity and pro-gender equality independents, mainly in Coalition-held seats.
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