A property developer in New South Wales paid A$50,000 to a fundraising auction for lunch with the deputy premier
At a party fundraising event in New South Wales, a property developer submitted a winning A$50,000 bid for a private lunch with the state's deputy premier. Transparency advocates described the situation as a test of state lobbying rules. The state government said the lunch will be subject to standard disclosure requirements.
At a party fundraising event in the Australian state of New South Wales, a property developer whose name has not been publicly disclosed submitted a winning bid of A$50,000 for a private lunch with the state's deputy premier. According to ABC News, the offer was registered as the highest pledge in a silent auction held late in the evening. Reports note that the developer has secured multiple favourable planning approvals from state authorities over the past two years.
Election-donation rules covering property developers vary by Australian state, and New South Wales has at times imposed specific category-level limits. Whether payments made via charity auctions count as donations or as service purchases has long been treated as a grey area. The Centre for Public Integrity, a transparency advocacy group, said the rules need updating.
The state government issued a statement shortly afterwards saying the lunch will be subject to standard disclosure requirements and official contact registers. The deputy premier's office added that no agenda items relating to ongoing development projects would be discussed. The state opposition said it will raise the matter in the state parliament.
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