Member for Wollongong Noreen Hay has hosted a lavish $200-a-head fundraising dinner just one year out from the state election, pumping thousands into Labor's campaign war chest.
Eighteen months after the Wollongong developer scandal forced changes to political campaign disclosures, almost 300 business figures turned out to rub shoulders with ALP luminaries including NSW Treasurer Eric Roozendaal, state president Bernie Riordan and ministers John Robertson and Steven Whan.
Invitations to the event, held at the upmarket Lagoon Restaurant on Friday, March 5, show cheques were made payable to the Wollongong State Electorate Council.
Were you at the fundraiser? Let us know if you or someone you know attended.The Lagoon is owned by former Wollongong lord mayor and ALP figure George Harrison.
One attendee not made welcome was a Mercury photographer, who was refused entry. Ms Hay initially welcomed the photographer, but was overruled by an unknown male associate who stepped in to declare the event was "a private function".
Greens MP Lee Rhiannon said the event highlighted concerns over the fundraising practices of state MPs, who she said often escaped scrutiny by channelling political donations through the NSW ALP head office.
As a result, it was difficult to determine which MPs the money was intended for, who the donors were and how much was received.
While the habit had long been practised by the Liberal Party and was allowed under disclosure laws, it was not in the spirit of transparency, Ms Rhiannon said.
"The Greens (believe) that Labor are funnelling local donations through their head office so they don't have to show any local MP involvement," she said.
"This action suggests a lack of commitment to full disclosure and electoral funding reform.
"Legislation should be changed to reform the whole system."
Regarded as one of the NSW ALP's most prolific fundraisers, Ms Hay declined to answer questions about who would be the official recipient of donations from the gala event - which presumably raised in the order of $60,000, minus expenses.
Instead, she directed inquiries to the NSW ALP head office.
Returns lodged for 2007 showed Ms Hay raised more than $230,000 in donations that year.
But Ms Hay declared she received no donations in 2008 and the first half of 2009.
Returns for the second half of 2009 are due to be released later this month.
Last July, Ms Hay reportedly missed a visit to Wollongong by Premier Nathan Rees when she hosted a corporate fundraising lunch in Sydney.
The Mercury understands tickets were sold at just under $1000 - the threshold for political donation disclosure.
Former Democrats accountability spokesman Andrew Murray said while the system of political donations needed reform, he doubted whether a $200-a-head fundraiser would lead to improper influence over decision making.
"I don't have a problem with fundraising dinners - you can't run a democracy for free," Mr Murray said.
"I don't mind which entity receives the money, provided where it comes from and where it is spent is fully disclosed."
THE GUIDELINES
Laws governing political donations were overhauled in October 2008 in the wake of the Wollongong bribery scandal:
NSW political parties must now disclose donations to the Electoral Funding Authority twice a year, instead of every four years. All donations of $1000 or more must be reported. Parties are not required to disclose the to0details of smaller donations, however the amount received and number of donors must be declared. At the annual Labor Party conference in November last year, then Premier Nathan Rees surprised delegates by announcing a ban on developer donations. His successor Kristina Keneally has since pledged to follow through on the ban. 
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