James O’Doherty: Spending limits could affect teals at state election
While Teal independents swept into federal seats on a tidal wave o cash at the federal election, limits placed on the amount of money spent on state election campaigns could spell a different story in March, writes James O’Doherty.
Opinion
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In spending a whopping $2.1 million in her campaign to win the seat of Wentworth, ‘Teal’ independent MP Allegra Spender would have made even the well-heeled voters of Watsons Bay blush.
As the electoral commission has now revealed, Spender was one of a handful of teal candidates that swept into office on a tidal wave of cash.
Teal-style independent groups are now lining up to replicate their success at the upcoming state poll.
But the strict electoral rules of NSW could end up being the breakwall that prevents electoral wipeout for coastal Liberals.
The list of “third party campaigners” registered with the NSW Electoral Commission now includes Pittwater’s, North Sydney’s Independent and Wakehurst’s Independent.
Each group will be able to spend $644,300 before March 25.
Only $26,700 of that money can be spent on campaigning for any individual electorate.
And if Climate 200 or other wealthy donors who backed teal candidates in the federal electorate try to work together to unseat Liberal MPs, they could find themselves in hot water.
The government had originally tried to prevent registered third party campaigners from working “in concert” during the election campaign.
This was overturned in parliament, in what was a major win for the union movement.
However, under legislation passed in August, provisions are still in place making it illegal for a person or group scheming to exceed individual spending caps.
If these rules were in place federally, as suggested by former Wentworth MP Dave Sharma this week, the outcome for Climate 200-backed candidates could have been much different.
Limiting electoral spending makes sense: elections should not be about which candidate can spend the most money on advertising and name recognition.
While spending caps will change the teal campaign model at the upcoming state poll, Liberals concede certain seats are still under threat from progressive independents.
If Northern Beaches mayor Michael Regan runs against the Liberals in Wakehurst, he will be the favourite at unbackable odds.
Regan will not comment on his plans but well-placed sources have told this column that he is all but a certainty to run.
In Pittwater, Liberals fear that fellow Northern Beaches councillor Rory Amon (set to be preselected unopposed) could lose the seat to a progressive woman with a credible CV.
Willoughby by-election candidate Larissa Penn has also registered as a candidate for the upcoming poll, which could put Gladys Berejiklian’s successor Tim James at risk.
The two biggest issues for teal candidates during the federal poll were action on climate change and matters of integrity.
Government sources feel they will not face the same backlash on climate change as the federal Coalition, largely thanks to Treasurer Matt Kean’s green energy policies.
They also believe that the Independent Commission Against Corruption has watered down concerns about an integrity deficit in NSW politics.
Instead, the state election will be fought on cost of living.
It is no coincidence that the government is spending millions of dollars advertising its rebates and vouchers designed to make life easier for families.
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