UNSUCCESSFUL candidate for the Federal seat of Cowper, Rob Oakeshott, has fired a broadside over criticism of a $70,000-plus payday for his three week election tilt.
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“With the release of the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) election reimbursements, you'll see a lot of easy journalism,” Mr Oakeshott said.
“You don't need to pick up a phone and call for quotes when you can spin a story around a dollar figure.
“As I've said before, there should not be money attached to votes, and whilst the major parties will be the first to attack me for receiving the public money all candidates receive, they will be the last to actually change the system that lines their pockets with up to $26 million per election.”
Throughout and following Mr Oakeshott's Cowper tilt, a number of media outlets and political opponents suggested the Independent's reason for entering the campaign was to make money.
“In this election campaign I was attacked for 'being in it for the money',” he said.
“They based this attack on the grounds that I am not a rich man, that I am studying medicine and surgery ... and that a late entry into the campaign meant I 'wasn’t trying'.
“To clarify issues of money - I have never cried poor to anyone, and I never will. It was, in my view, a disgusting implication to use personal finances as their key attack point … it was clever politics, and obviously damaging to my campaign.
“Regardless, what this attack has done is raise a legitimate issue about this $2.60 of public money being attached to each vote, of every candidate in Australia. This is something that needs reform so this attack cannot be made on anyone else in the future.”
During Mr Oakeshott’s campaign, the Port Macquarie local said he had spent $52,300 and this was evidence of his intentions.
“I would not have spent over $50,000 if I was not running to win,” he said.
“Separately, we are still working our way through separate donors to the campaign. Nearly 50 people made online donations throughout the campaign, with the most common figures being $25 or $50.
“None of these donations are over the $13,000 threshold for public declarations as is currently the loose and flawed Australian electoral law for public declarations, and it will take time to work through this list to confirm the legitimacy of each donation - this will be released in due course.”
Overall, the AEC said $60 million will be paid out in election funding to the various candidates. The biggest single recipient is the Liberal Party, which received $23.5 million, just ahead of Labor's $22.4 million. The Greens received $6.3 million.
For a list of 2016 federal election payments to political parties and candidates click here.
