FELICITY’S MEMORY FAILS HER
FORGETS 16 TIMES AT CCC HEARING
FELICITY Stevenson’s memory failed her 16 times at the Crime and Corrupt Commission hearing yesterday, but she was certain on one thing: she didn’t meet together with her boss Stuart Robert and work colleague turned councillor Kristyn Boulton before last year’s election.
Ms Stevenson’s evidence at the Brisbane inquiry put her at odds with the Fadden MP who last week said he “grabbed both girls in my office” less than two months before the March poll and told them they were “running against some seasoned Labor outfits”.
During his evidence, Mr Robert said he told the two election candidates “you might need some assistance” and “I’m going to seek advice from whether the Fadden Forum can do that”.
Mr Robert said he suggested the amount would be $25,000 each.
Ms Stevenson and Cr Boulton, both long-time employees of Mr Robert, said they did not know how much money they would receive. They later got $30,000 for their campaigns, in three instalments.
Cr Boulton told the hearing last week she did not recall a meeting between the trio and thought the money was a personal donation from Mr Robert, while Mr Stevenson said she only became aware the money was from the Fadden Forum when she checked bank statements after the election.
“He sat in my office,” Ms Stevenson said of the meeting with Mr Robert in late January last year. “I told him I wanted to contest. He said he would assist by getting some dollars and cents together.”
When asked if Cr Boulton was there, Ms Stevenson replied “no she wasn’t”.
She recalled that Mr Robert had “no problem with me taking leave”.
Glen Rice, QC, counsel for the Commission, questioned Ms Stevenson, who was running as an independent candidate in division five, about her knowledge of the three payments in her bank accounts – referring to $10,000 in February 3, $15,000 on February 9 and $5000 on March 9.
Mr Rice yesterday suggested Ms Stevenson would have spotted the funds arriving because she needed money for her campaign and asked if “she watched the money coming in”.
“I honestly can’t recall. would make sense,” she replied.
Ms Stevenson recalled seeing an account number and the funds and presumed it was from Mr Robert.
Asked whether the arrival of $25,000 had prompted a call to Mr Robert, she replied “no”.
The Bulletin last year reported Ms Stevenson wrote on Facebook It on February 18: “Honesty and transparency are important so I thank you for contacting me to ask these questions. I am funding my campaign from my own savings and local supporters.
“I have recieved (sic) no funding from developers. I am not a member of any political party. I have not received funding from any political party.”
Ms Stevenson only remembered speaking to Mr Robert twice during the campaign and on both occasions it was to wish each other the best.
As an electorate secretary she acknowledged she was aware of the Fadden Forum as an LNP fundraising vehicle and until 2010 played some role in assisting functions and fundraisers.
“I would ring venues and ask to book a room,” she told the hearing, adding that she had contact with members.
Ms Stevenson, under questioning, repeated that Mr Robert had not disclosed the source of the funding during the campaign.
But in late May when filling out a disclosure return for the Electoral Commission she referred to the three funding entries as being from the Fadden Forum.
Mr Rice: “What was the source of your information that caused you to fill out the form that way.”
Ms Stevenson: “I asked Stuart for some advice.”
She admitted noticing the credit entries on her bank statements showed the source of the money was the LNP.
Asked if that had surprised her, she replied: “It would have, I would think.”
HE (ROBERT) SAT IN MY OFFICE. I TOLD HIM I WANTED TO CONTEST. HE SAID HE WOULD ASSIST BY GETTING SOME DOLLARS AND CENTS TOGETHER. FELICITY STEVENSON