Karen McNamara (Dobell, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Surprise, surprise: over the last couple of weeks we have had more union lies. Australian electorates were subjected to an expensive $3 million deceitful and pathetic attempt to embarrass the government and coalition members in electorates such as Dobell. In my electorate of Dobell, this deceitful and misleading campaign was orchestrated by the ACTU, the CFMEU and the Central Coast Community Union Alliance.

Despite the pathetic attempts and considerable money investment to mislead the community, it did not work. Not only did unions use hardworking members' funds to advertise and hold an event in my electorate that they knew I could not attend; they never even consulted my availability to organise the event. But they continued to mislead the public by going ahead with the event, and at what cost to hardworking union members? Interstate plane fares; accommodation; hire cars; venue hire; catering; printing and advertising even though they knew that I was not going to attend; letterbox drops; robocalls? Approximately $20,000. Putting it on the union members' MasterCard? Priceless. Now it is known locally as the $20,000 phone call. Why? Because, out of the approximately 180,000 residents in my electorate, only four contacted my office to find out why I did not attend. Surprise, surprise: all four are known in our system as being strong opposition supporters.

If the Central Coast Community Union Alliance have money to waste, do not waste it. Put it to good use. Donate $20,000 to a local charity.