THE identities of donors who funded an advertising campaign promoting eight Strathbogie Shire Council candidates – touting the candidates’ shared commitment to “transparency” – will remain hidden from the public. The group was promoted under the name “Let’s Work Together” through a website and advertisements in Nagambie’s Community Voice newspaper. The candidates – Frank York, Scott Jeffery, Fiona Stevens, Greg Carlson, Jimmy Davidson, Claire Ewart-Kennedy, Clark Holloway, Scott Jeffery and Amanda McClaren – agreed that if elected, they would work together in accordance with six principles that underpin local government, including transparency. Seven other candidates were not invited to join the group despite agreeing with the principles. Five of the candidates – Scott Jeffery, Fiona Stevens, Greg Carlson, Claire Ewart-Kennedy and Clark Holloway – have now been elected as councillors. Community members, including Tahbilk Group director and former councillor Alister Purbrick, and Nagambie’s John Beresford, were involved in forming the group and drafting the six principles. In September, Mr Beresford said the advertisements would be invoiced to supporters of the group, who did not wish to be identified yet and whose donations would be disclosed after the election in accordance with VEC requirements, where applicable. Some candidates have chosen to repay their share of the cost of the promotions, while others have accepted donations. Candidates are legally required to disclose the names of individuals who donated to their campaign, but only if the donations exceed $500. Last week, Alister Purbrick declined to identify the donors and told this masthead that no donor exceeded the $500 threshold. Because their donations fell under this threshold, candidates are not legally required to disclose the names of these donors, allowing their identities to remain hidden. Cr Claire Ewart-Kennedy, Cr Fiona Stevens, Frank York and Jimmy Davidson told this masthead they paid their own campaign costs or would repay their share of the group's advertising costs. Cr Greg Carlson said the donations he received from supporters of the group were modest and beneath the $500 threshold. “The contributors were businesspeople from Nagambie; I never met the backers personally,” he said. He declined to share their names. Amanda McClaren, Cr Scott Jeffery and Cr Scott Holloway did not respond to questions from this masthead last week. In a statement shared with this masthead early in his candidacy, Cr Holloway said: “Transparency is paramount… Sunlight is the best disinfectant – everything that council does needs to be open to public scrutiny.” John Beresford and Alister Purbrick did not respond when asked last week if they were among the donors. Mr Beresford is general manager of Nagambie Development Enterprises according to the website of his company, Ironstone Advisory Services, and a member of Nagambie’s chamber of commerce, Go Nagambie. Mr Purbrick is a member of council’s independent audit and risk committee. Mr Purbrick confirmed the “Let’s Work Together” group would no longer operate now the election period is over.
