Federal election 2016: Nick Xenophon eyes $2m party payment
NICK Xenophon is taking a major leap of faith this election, mortgaging his own home for $250,000 to campaign for candidates across Australia.
NICK XenophonÂs new political party is on track to secure a bumper $2 million payday from taxpayers after the federal election.
Despite claiming he’s not on a shoestring budget but “a dental floss budget’’, the popular independent’s new party could be heading for a multimillion-dollar payday.
He could also emerge as one of the power players in the Senate with predictions he could secure up to three senators in South Australia alone.
At the last election, the Nick Xenophon Team (NXT) was paid $642,839 but his payday will be much bigger this time because he is running candidates nationally.
All political parties are awarded $2.62 a vote at the federal election when they secure more than 4 per cent of the vote. Mr Xenophon said he also hoped to raise political donations.
Mr Xenophon revealed he’s bet the house on the result, mortgaging the property for $250,000 to campaign for candidates across Australia.
“There is no windfall. There’s no massive payday,’’ he said.
“We will get what everyone else gets.
“The funding we receive is based on the number of votes. I’ve mortgaged my house to fund the campaign. I might have to borrow more between now and election day.”
But his political opponents poured scorn on the idea that he was crying poor, with a Liberal MP saying: “He’s got five houses, of which four are negatively geared.’’
Taxpayers provided $58 million in funding to political parties after the 2013 poll, including the Liberal Party’s windfall of $23 million and the Labor Party’s $20 million.
In his home state, Mr Xenophon is tipped to gain up to three senators.
He also believes his candidate has “a fighting chance’’ to beat Liberal MP Jamie Briggs in the Adelaide Hills seat of Mayo.
“We’re going to give it a red-hot go,’’ Mr Xenophon said.
Mr Xenophon also revealed he had put to bed his pledge to never use chauffeur-driven Comcars after he discovered it was cheaper than taxis for longer drives.
He’s subsequently spent around $3000 on Comcar rides.
“I use them very rarely, though. And I think my travel budget is lower than other MPs because I fly economy,’’ he said.
In the event of a death during the campaign, the laws state that the election funding entitlement will still be paid to the deceased MPs’ registered political party or the candidate’s legal personal representative.
2013 Federal Election Funding Payments ($)
Liberal Party of Australia
23,884,672.94
National Party of Australia
3,111,072.51
Country Liberals (Northern Territory)
209,611.51
COALITION TOTAL
27,205,356.96
Australian Labor Party
20,774,690.55
Australian Greens
5,531,871.45
Palmer United Party
2,312,809.98
Liberal Democratic Party
1,046,495.10
Nick Xenophon Group
642,839.49
Katter’s Australian Party
168,375.40