HO, HO, ho! Christmas comes early for we who love a good laugh. If you didn’t laugh, you’d cry, especially reading the letter from Julian Glynn of Cowes. This former treasurer of the Victorian Liberals has the hypocritical gall to suggest that the major parties are transparent about their funding and independent candidates are not. 

In our area that would be Deb Leonard. I asked her how much direct funding she’s had from Mr Glynn’s “billionaire climate change advocates”. Short answer, none.

The Climate 200 action group has given $20k to Ms Leonard’s campaign. All her funding is openly published on her website. 

Let’s talk billionaires. Simon Holmes à Court backs Climate 200. He’s wealthy, net worth $150m, but no billionaire. Gina Rinehart’s a billionaire. She’s not funding teal independents. She donates to the major parties. As do huge corporates like Woodside, Macquarie, Pratt Holdings, tobacco giant Phillip Morris, the list goes on. No dollars for independents there. 

Meanwhile, the Labor and Liberal parties want to grant each other $90m in election funding. So, spare me the fatuous self-serving nonsense, Mr Glynn.

It all leads one to think that the major parties, whose votes have declined dramatically in recent elections, are terrified of losing further votes, and seats, to community-based independents. Personally, I hope they do.

Leigh Candy, Drouin