LIBERAL MP Bernie Finn has launched an extraordinary attack on western suburbs lobby group LeadWest, accusing it of being a Labor Party front.
In State Parliament last Thursday, Mr Finn called on Local Government Minister Jeanette Powell to investigate the Maribyrnong-based organisation over the “hundreds of thousands of dollars” it was receiving from local councils.
Mr Finn questioned whether LeadWest was fulfilling its role or simply boosting Labor’s prospects in the west.
“There’s a view in Melbourne’s west that LeadWest is just an extremely well-funded organisation to provide an independent third-party endorsement for the Labor Party,” Mr Finn said.
“The view can’t be easily dismissed when we consider that the only group in the west that defended the Gillard carbon tax last year during my campaign against it was indeed LeadWest.”
LeadWest manager (business and projects) Craig Rowley described the attack as “bizarre”.
Last week the Weekly reported on a LeadWest study showing the impact of the state government’s $300 million TAFE funding cuts in the west.
“I am deeply concerned at the huge amount of ratepayer funds that possibly are being wasted, and I ask the minister to conduct an inquiry into the funding of LeadWest by western suburbs councils,” Mr Finn said.
Mr Rowley said LeadWest had never defended the carbon tax but reflected the view of many businesses which saw new opportunities in a clean-energy economy.
He added that businesses cited lack of training as the biggest issue in the area, hence LeadWest highlighting the potential damage to the area through the “bad public policy” of TAFE cuts.
—Benjamin Millar
