Liberal candidate for Bennelong John Alexander ‘failed to declare rental income’ on Moss Vale property
JOHN Alexander has rejected claims he contravened MP rules in not declaring income from a luxury rental property, as he fights for his political future in the Bennelong by-election.
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THE Liberal candidate for the federal seat of Bennelong has rejected claims he breached parliamentary rules by not declaring rental income from a luxury NSW property.
John Alexander who’s trying to win back the seat, amid a challenge by Labor’s former NSW premier Kristina Keneally, after resigning last month due to his dual citizenship, owns a $5 million home in the Southern Highlands, outside of Sydney.
While the May property acquisition was declared, questions have been raised about whether or not he should also have declared the rental income on the parliamentary register of member’s interests.
However Mr Alexander said he had done nothing wrong
“I complied entirely with disclosure, you have to disclose your interests but there is no requirement to disclose any income,” he told Channel 7’s Sunrise.
Mr Alexander said the situation was the same as if he had invested in the stock market.
“You don’t have to say how many shares you bought, you don’t have to say what your dividend is.”
“I have complied 100 per cent.”
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull told 3AW Mr Alexander had disclosed the property “in an appropriate way”.
“He has shown full disclosure and complete transparency,” he said
Fairfax Media reported that Mr Alexander made the purchase of the 100 acre, $4.8 million Moss Vale property in May.
While he reportedly declared that on June 20 this year, he is yet to declare an income earned from renting the eight-bedroom property.
When he purchased the place he claimed it would be used for “short-term holiday rental and horse agistment purposes only”.
Mr Alexander’s property can be seen on multiple rental websites at a cost of $1440 for a one-night stay. It also shows that the place is rented for most of December and January.
Political candidates are required to declare any substantial sources of income.
Polls show Mr Alexander has a slight lead over rival Ms Keneally with the Liberal at 40 per cent of the vote and the former NSW premier at 36 per cent.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull needs Mr Alexander to win his seat in order to maintain a majority in the House of Representatives.
Originally published as Liberal candidate for Bennelong John Alexander ‘failed to declare rental income’ on Moss Vale property