Dumped Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull often covered party expenses privately, donating $1.75 million from his own pocket toward the federal campaign last year.
The Liberal Party are reportedly struggling to reach funding targets for campaigning, resorting to charity events to raise the funds.
However, with Mr Turnbull’s public elimination from politics, many of the upcoming events with the former prime minister as the headliner are set to be postponed or cancelled.
Ex Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull (pictured with wife, Lucy) often covered party expenses privately, donating $1.75 million from his own pocket toward the federal campaign last year
The poor fundraising efforts of a series of Coalition MP’s are set to be publicly announced as the party clambers to consider alternative solutions to still raise funds at the big ticket events.
New South Wales Liberal president Philip Ruddock threatened to ‘name and shame’ electorates not contributing a sustainable amount to the federal election kitty, the Herald Sun reported.
Australia’s newest Prime Minister Scott Morrison has no such worries to contest with, allegedly already well ahead of his $110,000 target for the campaign.
However, Mr Turnbull had structured a series of events in which he would be the main attraction, with tickets starting from $500 through to $12,500 for a sit down meal with he and his colleagues.
Australia’s newest Prime Minister Scott Morrison has no such worries to contest with, allegedly already well ahead of his $110,000 target for the campaign
The event was set to replenish the struggling Liberal Party’s pockets as they head into a federal election against Labor leader Bill Shorten.
Labor ran a similar event in the past, and successfully raised over $1 million.
Two events scheduled for September 21 with Mr Turnbull are also allegedly being put on hold.
One of these was a fundraiser held by high profile television executive David Leckie and his wife, Skye, at their Woollahra property.
The event, titled ‘at home with the Prime Minister’ was priced at $500 a head, and was expected to be a crucial fundraiser for the party.
Three of the party members who signed the petition to overthrow Mr Turnbull, including Craig Kelly, Concetta Fierravanti-Wells and Sussan Ley are all significantly under their target fundraising amounts.
As of July, it is alleged Mr Kelly had only raised $34 of his $70,000 total target.
The electorate contributions comprise one of the primary ways in which parties raise their campaigning funds.
Public funding and business contributions also assist parties, however internal memos insinuated the party was facing increasing difficulty in attracting new donors.
Without sufficient funds, or Mr Turnbull’s personal donations to help his cause, it appears the Liberal Party may struggle to match or surpass Labor campaigning tactics ahead of the next election.