Inside the election spending ‘stitch up’ which blindsided the independents
Federal independent MPs were blindsided by the secret deal between Labor and the Opposition to dramatically change election laws surrounding political donations.
NSW
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It was early Wednesday afternoon when the flurries of hectic text messages began flowing between crossbench MPs and their staff, as the independents began to realise the major parties were about to make their move on election donation and spending reforms.
Though “well aware” they had been dealt out of the talks, as one teal MP said, the crossbenchers were still livid over Labor’s “underhanded” tactics in bringing on a vote to pass the sweeping election reforms so late in the day.
Independent MPs and senators rushed to cobble together a snap press conference in the mural hall of Parliament House where they stood shoulder-to-shoulder united in opposition to what many described as a “stitch up” between Labor and the Coalition to disadvantage their movement.
It was a stark contrast to less than 24 hours earlier when, at the behest of an eleventh-hour invite from the Prime Minister, teal and independent MPs stood within the grounds of The Lodge, the historic homestead where the Prime Minister hangs his hat when in Canberra.
The lower house independents munched on spring rolls and avocado smeared on crackers, making small talk about The Lodge’s manicured gardens and commenting on the cuteness of the PM’s cavoodle, Toto.
Chatting casually with Mr Albanese and his fiance Jodie Haydon, the prevailing feeling among the cohort was that the Prime Minister was facing the reality he might soon need their support to retain his office, if polling suggesting Labor will fall into minority government in the coming months is proven right.
Among those looking out over the lawns of The Lodge were teal MPs Allegra Spender, Kate Chaney, Sophie Scamps, Zali Steggall, Zoe Daniel and Monique Ryan, as well as regional and suburban independents like Dai Le, Andrew Gee, Helen Haines and Rebekha Sharkie.
In the hurly-burly of a sitting week in the Canberra bubble, sitting days for MPs are usually scheduled to the minute with back-to-back meetings and engagements, meaning dropping what you’ve got planned for a last-minute invite is a rarity.
It’s a mark of the significance of the invitation that it took precedent over whatever else they had booked in.
While those present “suspected” an agreement between the government and opposition on reforms for future Australian federal elections was nearing conclusion, none were aware that a few hours before they stepped out onto the gravel driveway of The Lodge the deal was done.
Special Minister of State Don Farrell had met with the Prime Minister and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton separately after Question Time that afternoon to finalise sign-off on the amended proposal.
Under the changes, which sailed through the Senate and then the House of Representatives to the backdrop of outcry from the crossbench, donations and spending in elections are dramatically capped, though significant carve outs remain for the campaign activities of major political parties.
The sequence of events – a secret deal followed by wine, soft drinks and nibbles at The Lodge – was a timely reminder to the largely first-term MPs that this is not Albanese’s first time around the minority government block.
That’s where Mr Albanese is in his domain – stitching up political deals in far flung corners of Parliament House.
It’s why Albanese will back himself to rig together a government even if his party is hit at the polls, which it could well be – with Sportsbet having Labor at $2.25 outsiders to favourites the Coalition at $1.61.
Given multiple polls pointing at the likelihood of minority government, members from both major parties have eagerly listed who could potentially help them prop up a Prime Minister.
One Coalition MP said he was confident they could cobble together government if they win 18 seats, saying they were confident Bob Katter, Le, Sharkie and Spender could be convinced to support them.
While Dutton was spotted meeting for dinner with Fowler MP Le at a western Sydney restaurant on her home patch in April last year, those who have previously been key in minority government said serious attempts to woo the crossbench had not yet begun.
Former independent MP Rob Oakeshott said the real charm offensive from either major party towards the crossbench would only begin when tranches of votes were counted on election day. He would know – his promise to guarantee support for Julia Gillard led to Labor forming government in 2010.
“(The major parties will) say (before the election) that the sky is going to fall in if you vote for an independent – and then, if it’s minority government, they’ll be the first on the phone,” he said.
“It’ll be midnight on election night, if (minority government) is on – that’ll be when the charm offensive starts. There’ll be buckets of money (promised) … that’s where it’s up to voters to call the game and see what it is and vote accordingly.”
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