Climate 200 boss Byron Fay mum on tycoon’s war chest boost

Climate 200 campaign director Byron Fay has refused to say whether Atlassian billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes contributed to the $13m war chest.

Climate 200 campaign director Byron Fay. Picture: AAP

Climate 200 campaign director Byron Fay has refused to say whether Atlassian billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes contributed to the $13m war chest the group raised to fund teal candidates at the federal election, despite ­campaigning for transparency in politics.

During an address at the Nat­ional Press Club in Canberra, Mr Fay also rejected claims the campaigning group was made up of “trust fund babies” following criticisms from opposition finance spokeswoman Jane Hume in ­February.

Mr Fay, who is Climate 200’s executive director, led the organisation that partly funded the successful campaigns of six teal MPs, the re-election of four incumbent MPs and a new ACT senator, after campaigns fought on climate change, integrity in politics and gender equity.

He said on Wednesday Climate 200 was “scrupulous” in its compliance with Australian Electoral Commission requirements to disclose donors above a $14,500 threshold, and would release information “as the year unfolds”.

Mr Fay dodged questions on whether an alleged “substantial donation” by Mr Cannon-Brookes, the tech-tycoon turned climate activist, was funnelled into a specific marginal seat in the days or weeks leading up to the federal election.

He revealed the organisation had amassed 11,200 donors from across Australia after initially being concerned it might not reach 200 donors, as the organisation’s name suggests, and one-third of donors were from rural and regional areas.

“We are incredibly proud of the diversity in the group who contributed to the project,” Mr Fay said. “All 151 electorates around the country represented one-third of our donors from rural and regional areas, and from all walks of life.”

When asked on Wednesday by The Australian whether Mr ­Cannon-Brookes had donated to Climate 200, he said: “I’m a strong supporter of anything that puts climate issues more clearly front and centre of our political processes. That said, I’m not simply pro-independents or ‘anti’ any political party. I’ve supported politicians from all parties.”

It is understood Mr Cannon Brookes will be complying with all AEC guidelines for political donations in September.

During his address, Mr Fay also detailed Climate 200’s funding model, which incentivised donors and local campaigners to raise funds, with larger donors agreeing to give only if the public matched their pledges.

The organisation also relied on social media influencers to engage the “critical voter segment” of young Australians, and harnessed “rigorous” data and polling to ensure funding was injected into the best seats.

Mr Fay said the success of the teal independents had destroyed Australia’s two-party system, and major parties would no longer be able to consider any seats “safe”.

“No longer can we assume the main choice for voters will be between the ALP and the LNP,” Mr Fay said.

“This election, nearly a third of us didn’t vote for the major parties. In 1951 … just 2 per cent of voters did so. The party stranglehold on Australian politics has been shattered.”

He said the Liberal Party had “stopped listening” to its constit­uents and would lose more seats if it opted to “move away from the sensible centre” and went off “to the fringes of the extreme”.

Mr Fay flagged that Climate 200 would consider expanding to regional seats if there was community appetite.

“We are very excited about the contribution we were able to provide,” Mr Fay said.

“And again, if a donor community that supported us wants to do so going forward, we can scale up our efforts.”