MEMBER for Mallee Anne Webster has pushed back on an ABC report that delved into her use of satellite office funding for a billboard-style advertisement.
The report from last Wednesday revealed Dr Webster was using up to $24,852 of available taxpayer money to lease an office space on Firebrace Street in Horsham.
The article said a building-wide advertisement of Dr Webster, spanning two windows and a double glass door, was affixed to the front of the vacant building in January, but the inside of the building had remained empty.
The advertising, likened to a billboard, listed three policy priorities, 18 things the Nationals MP could assist the public with, her website, the Nationals party logo, as well as two photos of Dr Webster and her contact details
According to the ABC, an additional line was added to the display in February, revealing that the office was unmanned.
Several advertising and integrity experts interviewed told the ABC the use of office space was misleading, could amount to a misuse of public funds, and gave Dr Webster an unfair advantage over any challengers for her seat heading into this year’s Federal Election.
Dr Webster said she was “amazed the ABC ran with this story”, rather than other issues including “Labor turning Mallee into an industrial wasteland with a pincushion or wind turbines and a spiders web of transmission lines”.
“As I said to ABC reporter Julia Bergin, since I was elected in 2019 I have always wanted to have an office in Horsham,” Dr Webster said.
“The satellite office funding is not adequate or available to do so and as I told Julia I have enquired of the Minister and he is reviewing the budget arrangements.
“My hope is to fully operate an office in Horsham when that funding becomes available.
“I have not had one person in Mallee complain about this matter, only Julia.
“I provided the foregoing comments to the ABC on 12 February, which they chose not to run in full online or on air.”
The ABC reported the cost of the lease was $19,250, which is more than $5500 below the satellite office budget cap.
“I also told Julia I was more than happy to put a table and chairs in there to meet people in the office, as that is all I have funding to do,” Dr Webster said.
“I have also spoken with the Shadow Special Minister of State about the inadequacy of the satellite office budget, and I am aware the Senate has investigated the adequacy of satellite office funding.
“Mallee is the largest electorate in Victoria, covering one third of the state’s land mass.
“The southern part of Mallee electorate deserves better resourcing to access their Federal member.”
The Department of Finance website shows the limit of the Commonwealth’s involvement in privately-leased satellite offices is the reimbursement of eligible expenses.
According to the website, a reimbursement would only apply if the commercial property lease was for a term of at least three months, entered into in Dr Webster’s capacity, was a permanent building within her electorate, and was used for the dominant purpose of conducting parliamentary business, and could not be used for commercial purposes.
The Labor branches of Mildura, Lowan and Maryborough were contacted for comment.
