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Canberra Today 13°/17° | Friday, March 29, 2024 | Digital Edition | Crossword & Sudoku

Libs man car raffle

Deputy Opposition Leader Brendan Smyth selling raffle tickets in Woden... “It’s a great way to spend time with constituents.” Photo by Silas Brown

IT may be an unusual way to raise money for an election campaign, but the ACT Liberals see their car raffle as a way to get to know their constituents.

Since May, ACT Liberal MLAs have been in Woden and Belconnen malls, selling raffle tickets to win a $47,500 Ford Falcon XR6 – the first time the ACT Liberal Party has raffled a car.

Deputy leader Brendan Smyth says that using grassroots fundraisers, such as raffles, not only helps the party fund its election campaign, but allows them to get to know their community.

“Unlike the ALP, we don’t take hundreds of thousands of dollars from poker machines and problem gamblers,” he said.

“It’s been pretty good so far. It’s a great way to spend time with constituents and serves two purposes; it raises money and also keeps us in touch with the community.”

He said constituents have been very responsive – “who wouldn’t want a new car?” – with many people using it as an opportunity to air their concerns about community issues, including the prison needle-and-syringe proposal and road safety.

“It’s lovely to have that opportunity to obviously listen to both sides of the argument,” he said.

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Thank you,

Ian Meikle, editor

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