Both parties pledge to match donations in Aussie Dollar Drop charity for homeless services

A new charity raising money for homeless services will ask voters to drop into collection tins when they file into polling booths this weekend. And the ALP and Liberal Party have both pledged to match all donations dollar for dollar.

Radio personality Matt Tilley is launching a new charity to help homeless Victorians where voters do a "dollar drop" on polling day. Housing minister Martin Foley (ALP) and Georgie Crozier (Liberal party) join forces for the cause. Picture: Jay Town

Just one dollar.

That’s what a new charity raising money for homeless services will ask voters to drop into collection tins when they file into polling booths this weekend.

The “Aussie Dollar Drop”, created by radio personality and comedian Matt Tilley, will run for the first time on Saturday and expand to the federal election next year if successful.

“We don’t want your sausage money — just the change, a dollar for every Victorian who vote could take us into the millions,” Mr Tilley said.

In a rare display of bipartisanship, the ALP and Liberal Party have pledged to match all voter donations — dollar for dollar — with a taxpayer-funded top-up.

“For people who lament that voting only encourages politicians, we reckon this is a simple way to bring about immediate change to the lives of the homeless,” Mr Tilley said.

The project, which is being supported by NAB and has actor Hamish Blake on board as an ambassador, will raise money to help fund the Salvos, the Big Issue, Melbourne City Mission and McAuley Community Services for Women.

Mr Tilley said the increasing rate of homelessness — and the fact one in every 200 Australians sleep homeless on any given night — compelled him to act.

Housing Minister Martin Foley and opposition families spokeswoman Georgie Crozier put rivalries aside yesterday to pose for a photo.

Ms Crozier said: “It’s a great initiative by great people where every little bit will help”.

Mr Foley said “we all have a role in ending homelessness”.
“That’s why we will get behind Aussie Dollar Drop — where Victorians once again come together to support other Victorians.”