DONATIONS made to Kingston councillors during the 2024 local government elections have been revealed.
Two successful Kingston candidates declared donations. Hadi Saab received a total of $10,500 from five individual donors, declaring $5000 from Sieman Raydan, $1500 each from Paul Smith, Sam Smith, and Mahrqan Shirvani, and $1000 from Assam Haydar. Deputy mayor Chris Howe declared a $362 donation from his son, outgoing councillor Cameron Howe.
Incumbent Kingston mayor Georgina Oxley donated $2400 to her mother’s campaign in Como Ward.
Unsuccessful candidate Alex Breskin also made a sizable donation of more than $12000 to his own campaign and donated $2900 to the campaign of Susanna Moore in Yammerbook Ward. Breskin and Moore also received nearly $3000 each from the Australian Greens Victoria, and $1050 each from Steven Adams. Chicquita Ward candidate Wandzia French received $850 from Jess Scarlett.
Seven candidates who took part in the Frankston Council election have disclosed donations. A handful of Mornington Peninsula Shire councillors have come under fire after they disclosed donations from the “Friends of The Mornington Peninsula” group, which is backed by a property developer.
Two successful Frankston Council candidates declared donations – deputy mayor Steffie Conroy declared a $1500 donation from Richard Starkins, and Emily Green declared three separate donations totalling around $7772. A total of $2792 was donated to Emily Green by the Australian Greens Vic, $3900 came from fellow Greens member Alex Breskin, and $1080 came from Steven Adams.
Elected Mornington Peninsula Shire councillors Bruce Ranken and Cam Williams received donations of roughly $7100 and $5000 respectively from “Friends of the Peninsula”. The property developer-backed Friends of the Peninsula also donated $14,000 to Peter Clarke’s unsuccessful campaign, and $8800 to Susan Bissinger.
The Local Government Act 2020 makes it mandatory for Victorian councils to publish the donation returns of each candidate within 40 days of the local government election.
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 22 January 2025