Political fundraiser with PM Julia Gillard and author Ben Elton in limbo as school pulls out as host
A political fundraiser with Prime Minister Julia Gillard and author and entertainer Ben Elton in Perth is in limbo after an independent public school refused to host the event.
The event is being advertised as a question-and-answer session between Ms Gillard and Elton, with tickets costing up to $250.
A total of 200 tickets have been sold with proceeds going towards Fremantle MP Melissa Parke’s federal election campaign.
The state’s Education Minister Peter Collier says the John Curtin School of the Arts in Fremantle pulled out of hosting the event today when it realised it was a political fundraiser.
He says he fully supports the school’s decision.
“I think it is just inappropriate to have a political fundraiser in a public school,” he said.
Ms Parke says the State Government is playing dirty tricks and there was no attempt to disguise it was a political event.
“We’ve been absolutely upfront, it’s been in our advertising, it’s been on our website,” she said.
“We’ve got a written statement from the Minister of Education’s office that they had no problems with the event.”
Ms Parke says it is an extraordinary political intervention.
“The Barnett government may think it runs a police state here in WA but we’re not going to let them suppress a perfectly legitimate Fremantle political event,” she said.
“This is an extraordinary political intervention that displays a pettiness at the heart of the Barnett government.”
Organisers are exploring other venue options and maintain the event will go ahead.