WA Liberals chasing election flops for funds

A meeting of the WA Liberal Party’s state council heard the party was still owed $76,000 in funding directed towards candidates during the campaign.

Former WA Liberal leader Zak Kirkup. Picture: Tony McDonough

The cash-strapped Liberal Party of WA is chasing failed candidates from the disastrous state election for tens of thousands of dollars in outstanding campaign costs.

A meeting of the party’s state council at the weekend heard how it was still owed $76,000 in funding directed to candidates during the campaign. Another $29,000 is owed by party branches.

Recouping the money is an important part of righting the party’s finances, which have taken a significant hit in the past few years and which are carrying a deficit of around $250,000.

The party struggled to attract support from broad sections of its traditional base for the state campaign, while the dismal result at the March election means it will receive a reimbursement from the WA Electoral Commission far smaller than budgeted for.

The Liberals recorded their worst result in history in March, emerging with only two lower house seats and losing opposition party status to the Nationals. Their previous worst lower house performance was the 10 seats won at the 2017 election.

It means they will receive just over $1m in electoral reimbursements, compared to more than $3.3m for the Labor government.

Last month, party president Fay Duda wrote to members seeking a plan to “resurrect” finances. “Our party is not broke, but some hard choices need to be made to put us back on a sound footing quickly,” she wrote.

Ms Duda told The Australian the figures “were presented as part of the normal statement of monthly receivables”.

The $115,000 owed by candidates and branches has been classified as assets to be repaid.