More dodgy fundraising by ACT

Written By: - Date published: 8:54 am, October 22nd, 2009 - 13 comments
Categories: act, corruption, election funding - Tags:

The ever industrious No Right Turn has turned up more dodgy fundraising practices by ACT.

Last month, three ACT MPs held what was billed as “a forum” on “the hard questions – and some answers” at the plush Mecure Leisure Lodge in Dunedin. Three strikes, VSM, local government, and smacking were discussed. People were invited to “join in” the “forum”:

Join in: $25 (the works!):- Come for a 9.00 am coffee & croissant. Speak to our MP’s and dignitaries Stay on for all the proceedings. (Voucher for light lunch at 1:00pm included.

Please tell John Fraser on 488 0480 if you want breakfast.

$10 (the forum): Arrive at 10:30 for a cuppa. Forum starts at 11 and ends at about 1:00pm -Stay on for lunch and a chat with Sir Roger Douglas, John Boscawen and David Garrett.

HALF PRICE: for those under 25 years old.

At no point is it mentioned this is an ACT fundraiser, the invite simply says: “Presented by the Act Party NZ”, as if they’re giving you something.

My concerns here is that a) MPs are flying around the country, presumably, at taxpayer expense to hold fundraisers and b) these fundraisers are being dressed up as chats with MPs, people attending are not being informed that their money is actually a donation to the ACT party.

Now, if I’m a Dunedinite and I hear there’s an ACT fundraiser going on and some MPs will be there speaking and I’m happy to donate some money to ACT to see the event, that’s fine.

But if I hear there are MPs speaking about an issue I care about and I want to go along and see them, and I’m happy to pay a charge that is portrayed as being to cover the cost of my food etc when in fact it’s going into ACT’s coffers, that’s not on.

Fundraisers masquedering as ministerial speeches and public forums. This corruption is simply not good enough. ACT used to claim to have standards.

13 comments on “More dodgy fundraising by ACT ”

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  1. Anne 1
    22 October 2009 at 9:44 am

    This is nothing new. ACT has been holding breakfasts – and the like – masquerading as issue-based forums for many years.

  2. Anne 2
    22 October 2009 at 9:55 am

    @ snoozer

    ACT members would have known they were fundraisers, but it is doubtful that outsiders would have been aware.

  3. Tigger 3
    22 October 2009 at 10:07 am

    So reporters – you’ve got the organisers name and phone number – call him up and get some answers. What was discussed? How much was raised? Where did the money go?

  4. Clint Heine 4
    22 October 2009 at 11:21 am

    Ha ha ha ha ha. You’re kidding right? This arrived by email to all ACT members and has always been billed as an ACT event, for all members, friends and enemies 🙂

    The MSM won’t get excited about it at all…what’s the point?

    • Tigger 4.1
      22 October 2009 at 11:45 am

      If tables were turned Hide would be pushing the story for all it’s worth – nothing wrong with an enthusiastic chase…

  5. millsy 5
    22 October 2009 at 12:47 pm

    ACT were always a user pays party – It doesnt suprise me.

    • Pascal's bookie 5.1
      22 October 2009 at 12:53 pm

      What do expect when who poeple who claim that government is a rort and politicians are crooks, thieves and liars stand for election?

  6. rolla_fxgt 6
    22 October 2009 at 1:25 pm

    In the words of Otago University, Get over it!

    Hodgson use to do the same thing, so did Parker, not sure about Benson Pope, but Curran has sure been pimpin herself out lately, pretty sure she’d be doing the same if she was a minister.
    I also vaguely remember seeing something around about a Turei talk that cost, but someone might correct me on that.
    Its not unique to the ACT party, and what’s more its part of how parties fund raise, but that might be shock horror to those who want full state funding of Political parties.

    Everyone does it, its how they raise funds, so what if they advertised it beyond the party members, when did that become illegal? Anyone with half a brain would of realised it was an ACT party event, especially as from memory the ad I saw for it said there was a closed meeting for ACT members beforehand.

    • lprent 6.1
      22 October 2009 at 3:11 pm

      Everyone does it, its how they raise funds

      Wrong.

      In this case it wasn’t billed as fund-raiser for ACT. It was worded as to listen to a fuckwit cabinet minister on his portfolio. That means it is done under cabinet rules.They explicitly state that they and their close cronies are not allowed to charge for what a cabinet minister has to do anyway from the government provided remuneration.

      In 30 years around politics, this is the first time I’ve seen a minister do anything like this.

      You’re as full of bullshit as Hide is… Must be an endemic disease in ACToids…

  7. rolla_fxgt 7
    22 October 2009 at 3:22 pm

    lprent

    I respectively suggest you have the wrong end of the stick I am referring to the Dunedin ACT meeting that the original post referred to. I am not referring to Rodney’s speech on Local Govt.
    2ndly I am not an actoid.

    I have respected your right to disagree with people and run your blog as you see fit, but when you rip into people with the wrong facts, and deride them, just because what they say seems to cut a little too close to the bone. I will call you on it, and compare you to the playground bully. You are no better than the playground bully, shame on you.

    I now agree with some of the commentators on the right wing blogs that the Standard is out of date, and nothing more than a rabid left wing shout fest, that fails to deal with the issue, and instead prefers to attack the person rather than the issue.
    I for one will not be frequenting this blog again, Take a break you small angry man, it might do you some good

  8. BLiP 8
    22 October 2009 at 3:30 pm

    I for one will not be frequenting this blog again

    . . . and the crowd goes wild.

  9. Clint Heine 9
    23 October 2009 at 11:43 am

    Lprent – I have never agreed with you before, and I will probably never agree with you. But you are not that stupid are you? REALLY? This is a non story and deep down you know it. Hey I know attack material against the Government is thin especially with the Nats on 33% higher than you guys.

    This is an innocent meeting organised to fundraise for the Dunedin electorates. I have been a member of these committees for years and there is nothing else in it. This was advertised to ACT members, supporters and friends.

    Nice you think the Mercure is plush, usually Dunedin ACT use standard meeting rooms in a central location, Dunedin hardly has an inexhaustable supply of plush rooms available. ACT regularly engages its members, this is no different. If I wanted to attend a Labour conference I wouldn’t expect to be allowed in free for any reason!