Liberal Party state president Danielle Blain has hit back at claims that the party is broke, outlining a new fundraising strategy at the weekend state conference where accounts were revealed showing a significant asset base.
Angered by recent reports of dwindling membership and reliance on a single, significant benefactor, Ms Blain told WA Business News she has been working hard to put the party on a more secure financial footing. She did acknowledge, however, that warring factions had made it difficult to achieve this during her three years as party head.
The Liberal president used her state conference speech last weekend to attack those divisions within her party.
She also launched the Leaders’ Forum of Western Australia, to provide a new fundraising platform – distinct from the Liberal’s well-known support group, the 500 Club.
“This vital initiative will enable the leaders of our community and our captains of industry to join together with our federal ministers and state shadow ministers to assist the party in the development of meaningful policy,” Ms Blain told the state conference.
“It will, at the same time, I believe, form the foundation of the annual income essential to ensure that we have the necessary staff and know-how to run our head office efficiently and effectively.”
She said the forum had already raised enough funds to employ a business development manager to replace volunteer staff.
At the state conference the party revealed net assets of $3.5 million, mainly held in property and shares.
Ms Blain said the party was determined not to dip into this asset base for operational funding.
“The need to attain a substantial annual operational sum to run the party head office is not a new issue,” Ms Blain said. “What is new, however, is that state management executive determined to address this issue openly and honestly, rather than reverting to the age-old solution of selling assets to pay for recurrent expenditure.”
