Exclusive: Fundraiser at Macquarie Bank HQ and Pharmacy Guild lunch called off as Tropical Cyclone Alfred bears down on the opposition leader’s home state
A fundraising event at the Melbourne headquarters of Macquarie Bank featuring Peter Dutton and several Liberal MPs was cancelled at the last minute on Wednesday night without explanation, as a major storm bore down on the opposition leader’s home state.
On Wednesday, the Australian Financial Review published a story claiming Peter Dutton left what he described as a “very serious” cyclone situation in Queensland for a fundraising soiree at the harbourside home of hospitality entrepreneur Justin Hemmes in Sydney on Tuesday night.
Dutton was scheduled to provide a keynote address to the Melbourne event shortly after 5pm on Wednesday.
The reason for cancelling the event, and who made the decision, was not made clear, although sources speculated it may have been due to Tropical Cyclone Alfred. Dutton’s office and Macquarie Bank were contacted for comment.
A second fundraising event featuring Peter Dutton – a lunch in Melbourne on Thursday hosted by the Pharmacy Guild – was also cancelled.
Dutton had addressed media on Tuesday about the serious threat posed by Cyclone Alfred in Brisbane. His electorate of Dickson, north of the city, is expected to feel the brunt of gale force winds in coming days.
During an interview with Sky News on Wednesday, filmed on his farm on the outskirts of Brisbane, Dutton said calling the federal election on Sunday would be a mistake given the possible impact of the cyclone.
“I think it’s really the occasion for the prime minister to be governing, not campaigning,” Dutton said. “He’s got until the 17th of May, there’s no reason to bring it on early, but we’ll see what he does.”
On Thursday morning, Dutton spoke to 2GB host Ben Fordham and was introduced as being on his farm “about 30km north west of the Brisbane CBD”.
“We’ve been making sure that everything’s put away, everything’s nailed down, and I guess, you deal with it as best you can,” Dutton said.
The Melbourne event, the level 36 of a tower on Collins Street, was to be hosted by Charlie Taylor, the treasurer of the Liberal Party of Australia and Nicole Andrews, the executive director of the Australian Business Network.
Invites seen by Guardian Australia show Liberal MPs Zoe McKenzie, Aaron Violi and Keith Wolahan were also expected to attend the 5pm to 7pm event.
Ellie Smith, an independent candidate for the seat of Dickson, said she was “disappointed” by media reports that Dutton had left Queensland to be in Sydney for an event on Tuesday night.
“The people of Dickson have been told they are facing one of the most extreme and devastating natural disasters to hit the region in a generation,” Smith said.
“Schools have closed, businesses have shut and people are doing everything they can to prepare for the worst and protect their families, loved ones and neighbours.”
The treasurer, Jim Chalmers, was asked on 4BC about reports Dutton had attended the event with Hemmes on 4BC. He said: “Look, that would be disappointing if it’s true. That’s for Peter Dutton to explain”.
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, was also in Sydney on Tuesday, announcing a new education funding package at a morning press conference alongside the NSW premier, Chris Minns.
With an expensive election campaign looming, business leaders across Australia have been deluged with invitations to similar events. Invitations seen by Guardian Australia show the prime minister, senior cabinet ministers, the opposition leader and other Coalition figures have all rubbed shoulders with well-financed figures in recent weeks.
Peter Dutton was also advertised as the special guest at a “leader’s private dinner” in Sydney last month. The two-and-a-half hour event was sponsored by the Insurance Council of Australia.
To attend intimate events with senior Liberal politicians, including the opposition leader, members of the Australian Business Network must pay annual fees worth tens of thousands of dollars.
Multiple sources, who have attended similar fundraisers but declined to be named to maintain good relations with politicians, say these kinds of dinners are usually sponsored by an organisation or a donor. In return, the sponsors can introduce the guest and secure a seat beside them or beside a key adviser.
The events have drawn the ire of transparency advocates who believe they damage faith in democracy.
Transparency International Australia’s chief executive, Clancy Moore, accuses these events of being an example of “cash-for-access” or “pay-to-play”.
“With the election on the horizon, it’s clear that the major parties are filling up their election war chests through these secretive fundraising events,” Moore previously told Guardian Australia.