Labor’s candidate for Dawesville Adam Woodage has denied misusing public resources after a photo of him campaigning in Mandurah MP David Templeman’s taxpayer-funded electorate office was posted on social media.
The photos show Mr Woodage, his campaign manager Oskar Lim and volunteers using Mr Templeman’s meeting room to make what they said were campaign calls.
“#TeamDawesville were calling people in Dawesville,” the post said.
“People are excited for a fresh approach and WA Labor’s plan for jobs!”
Another, which shows two campaign volunteers holding a campaign poster in Mr Templeman’s office, reads: “Calling folks in Dawesville tonight”.
Strict rules surround the use of electorate offices, which prohibit them being used to help a political candidate’s election campaign.
The rules, which were circulated to members of parliament and their staff in December, make it clear that “under no circumstances are parliamentary electorate offices to be used as campaign bases or headquarters”.
“Electorate office resources, including equipment and telephones, are also not to be used for election campaigning,” the guidelines from the Department of Premier and Cabinet read.
The rules also prohibit the display of “party political literature or signs”.
Mr Woodage said he used the office because it was open to members of the public, even at night, but was not aware of the “approval process”.
“His office is always open to the general public,” he said.
He said Mr Templeman and his staff were not involved with giving him access to the office and that no staff members were present while they used the office for campaigning.
He said he would “most certainly” be surprised if it was against the Department of Premier and Cabinet’s guidelines.
“I wouldn’t be doing it if it was against any sort of law, mate, or a guideline or whatnot,” he said.
If the electorate office has been used contrary to the guidelines, Mr Templeman may also be exposed to a breach of the parliamentary code of conduct, which requires him to follow the rules relating to the use of public resources in election campaigns.
There are also guidelines in the Parliamentary Electorate Office Handbook which prohibit the use of an electorate office for campaigning.
“Parliamentary electorate offices are provided on the basis that they are not to be used for purposes other than those related to the parliamentary or electoral duties of the member,” they read.
“They are not to be used as an election campaign base or headquarters for activities associated with political parties such as branch meetings.”
Mr Templeman said the office had been used without his knowledge.
“My office is a community hub,” he said.
“The trust I place in volunteers working to make the Peel region better was broken and my office was used without my knowledge.
“It’s very unfortunate, and goes against DPC [Department of Premier and Cabinet] guidelines. I have contacted DPC to advise them of this breach.”
Nathan Hondros
Senior Journalist for the Mandurah Mail, Australian Community Media, and Fairfax Media.
Senior Journalist for the Mandurah Mail, Australian Community Media, and Fairfax Media.
