Labor fixes blunder after Riverstone candidate says event was ‘donated’ by hotel

Australian Labor Party officials have rectified a major blunder in the marathon battle of a western Sydney seat

Riverstone Labor candidate Annemarie Christie.

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Australian Labor Party officials have rectified a major blunder in the marathon battle of a western Sydney seat — after Riverstone Labor candidate Annemarie Christie told Liberal MP Kevin Conolly a licensed hotel had donated venue space for a campaign event.

Annemarie Christie, Labor Candidate for Riverstone. Picture: Annika Enderborg

The Ettamogah Hotel was the venue for a Labor organised Candidate’s Forum.

On March 7, Mrs Christie sent incumbent Riverstone state Liberal MP Kevin Conolly a letter — which was also published and then deleted on her Facebook election profile — inviting him to attend a Labor organised Candidate’s Forum on March 18 at the Ettamogah Hotel, Kellyville Ridge.

In the letter, Dr Christie said “the use of the room has been donated by the Hotel”.

The Greens’ candidate Alex Van Vucht (left) and Annemarie Christie at the candidate’s forum she hosted at the Ettamogah Hotel.

On March 18, the NSW Electoral Commission Investigations Department received an official complaint about the letter, which the complainant said was an illegal donation to the candidate’s campaign.

In documents obtained exclusively by the Rouse Hill Times, the head of the department revealed it was “unlawful for a ‘liquor or gambling industry business entity’ to make a political donation, in kind or monetary, to a state candidate”.

Donations are reviewed against the NSW Electoral Commission’s compliance and enforcement policy.

But a Labor Party spokesman said despite the letter referring to the donation, the Ettamogah Hotel billed the campaign, “the day after the event was held”.

A social media post from Annemarie Christie.

“The campaign has been properly billed for the use of the premises, and has not received a donation,” the spokesman said on behalf of Mrs Christie.

“The real question is why has politician Kevin Conolly cowardly dodged questions from the community and refused to answer questions about the Liberals reckless $2.2 billion splurge of our taxpayer money.”

Mr Conolly confirmed he did receive a letter from the Labor candidate stating the venue was donated by the hotel.

“As the event was simply a stunt organised by the Labor candidate, rather than a genuine community event, it would obviously have been a waste of time to attend,” Mr Conolly said.

A spokesman for the Ettamogah Hotel declined to comment.

Annemarie Christie is battling to dethrone incumbent Riverstone Liberal MP Kevin Conolly from his traditionally safe Liberal seat, which he holds by a 12.2 per cent margin.

However, predictions for the result of Saturday’s election expects a tight race between the two candidates.

Historically, the seat was held by the Australian Labor Party from its creation in 1981 until 2011 — when Liberal MP Kevin Conolly was elected. It has been held by the Liberal Party for the past eight years.

The Riverstone electorate is made up of suburbs including Riverstone, Schofields, Glenwood, Parklea, Stanhope Gardens, Acacia Gardens, Kellyville Ridge and Quakers Hill.

It is bounded by the M7, Windsor and Old Windsor roads and Richmond Rd.

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Kevin Conolly.

Alex Van Vucht.

Annemarie Christie.