Upper Hunter by-election: Malcolm Turnbull donates to independent candidate

Gladys Berejiklian dec­lared she’s “not happy” Malcolm Turnbull financially donated to a rival’s campaign as all sides prepare a last-ditch bid for votes in Saturday’s Upper Hunter by-election.

Gladys Berejiklian dec­lared she’s “not happy” former Liberal PM Malcolm Turnbull financially donated to a rival’s campaign as all sides prepared a last-ditch bid for votes ahead of Saturday’s Upper Hunter by-election.

A campaign that began with the ex-PM dominating headlines over his calls to stop the expansion of a coal mine near his property is also ­ending with the ex-PM amid calls for his resignation over a “treacherous” financial ­donation.

Former PM Malcolm Turnbull has donated to the campaign of Upper Hunter independent candidate Kirsty O’Connell.

Fallout from this paper’s revelation that Mr Turnbull donated the maximum all­owed — $3000 — to independent Kirsty O’Connell saw Nationals’ Leader John Barilaro claim the ex PM had shown he “wanted to see the Berejiklian/Barilaro Liberal National coalition government go into minority”.

“If the Liberal Party don’t want to sack him, well be honourable and resign,” he said.

A loss for the Nationals of the seat which is held on a wafer thin margin of 2.6 per cent will plunge the government further into minority, with two ex Liberal ministers now also sitting on the cross bench.

While the Liberals can be counted on for voting support, a loss in the Upper Hunter would be less predictable.

Independent Upper Hunter by-election candidate Kirsty O'Connell.

Labor and the Nationals both believe they are still in with a shot at victory in Saturday’s poll, with both sides also wary of the minor parties, amid expectations of a tight result.

Internal party polling conducted as recently as Tuesday night has the Nationals confident they can win, with a ­belief One Nation is also ­polling well in Singleton.

But Labor sources believed the Nationals’ primary vote may be too low to clinch victory.

In a final pitch, Mr Barilaro declared a win for the government was important to maintain stability in parliament’s lower house.

“If we have to start negotiation in the lower house like we need to in the upper house we will achieve nothing. And we aren’t out of the woods on the virus,” he said.

Labor Leader Jodi McKay will work the Muswellbrook pre-poll centre today, in a bid to lock in booths that traditionally support the party.

Her candidate Jeff Drayton will stand up alongside local coalminers in a final jobs pitch at Singleton.

Mr Turnbull’s candidate, independent Kirsty O’Connell, criticised Mr Bari­l­aro for mic­romanaging the campaign, saying it would make it impossible for Nat­ionals candidate David Lay­zell to represent the people.

Upper Hunter business owners Scott and Kristy Boyton from Clarence Town are long-term National/Liberal voters who will support David Layzell.

Ms Boyton said the pair have a chain of industrial supply businesses which started in Rutherford before expanding to Muswellbrook and Gunnedah and would lose 50 per cent of market share if the mining industry collapsed.  

They also know Mr Layzell locally.

Mr Boyton’s family has a dairy farmer background, which she said gave them an understanding of how the concerns of mining and agriculture must be balanced.

“We are also supportive of the transition to cleaner ­energy but there has to be a balance,” she said.

Earlier on Thursday, Ms O’Connell said she had a $60,000 campaign budget – well below the major parties – and that Mr Turnbull had donated within the rules which allow just $3000.

“He has made a donation within the cap,” Ms O’Connell said.

“I cannot take more than $3000 from any adult Australian citizen. It will be in the disclosures. There are no secrets,” she said.

Ms O’Connell pointed out independents are hamstrung by electoral commission rules that let them accept just $3000 from individuals while registered parties can accept $6600.

She said she would likely have to fund part of her own campaign on top of donations.

Ms O’Connell was furious to learn the ALP will release campaigning material urging voters voting for her to preference Labor’s candidate Jeff Drayton second.

The brochures, which say “Voting Kirsty O’Connell? Vote 2 Jeff Drayton” had not been seen by Ms O’Connell until the Telegraph showed it to her.

Ms O’Connell has refused to preference the major parties because she believes they do not have a transition plan for the future of the Upper Hunter.

“I am recommending all independent candidates as I really believe that’s what we need in order to bring some common sense to the discussion around new mining and a plan for our future.

“I’m not recommending parties as I believe party politics is failing the Upper Hunter and has done for years.”

It can be revealed the Nationals personally approached Ms O’Connell before she was linked to Mr Turnbull seeking a preference deal.

They were not able to strike one as Ms O’Connell wanted firm commitment against the expansion of coal mines, which they were not willing to give.