The Liberal party's candidate for Paterson should have a solid financial foundation to start his or her federal election campaign after Scott Morrison's private fundraising dinner at the Newcastle Club on Monday night.
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Liberal sources were keeping mum on Tuesday about the reportedly $10,000-a-plate dinner at Newcastle's elegant and discreet business establishment on The Hill.
But the Newcastle Herald understands the dinner was essentially in aid of the Liberals' Paterson candidate-in-waiting, Medowie lawyer Brooke Vitnell, whose husband, Julian Leembruggen, is a long-time media strategist in the PM's office.
Ms Vitnell is yet to be endorsed by the local Liberal branch but is widely viewed as the party's standout candidate to try to unseat Labor incumbent Meryl Swanson.
Another lawyer, Nell McGill, is shaping to go around again as the Liberal candidate in Shortland after she more than halved Pat Conroy's 9.9 per cent margin in 2019.
Liberal sources said the $10,000 price tag at the Newcastle Club dinner was steep by Newcastle standards for a prime ministerial dinner, especially with a less-than-intimate 15 attendees.
Ms Vitnell, the PM's office and NSW Liberal Party headquarters would not comment about the dinner beyond confirming that it happened.
The simple maths points to a handy six-figure sum in the war chest of the Libs' Paterson Federal Electorate Conference for the next nationwide vote either late this year or early in 2022.
Mr Morrison was in the Paterson electorate on Monday morning to celebrate the F-35 joint strike fighter moving into operational service at Williamtown.
Ms Swanson and her state Labor counterpart Kate Washington were quick to seize on the eye-watering price of the Liberal fundraiser, noting Mr Morrison did not meet victims of the RAAF base's PFAS pollution outbreak during his visit.
Ms Swanson said it was "disgraceful" that the Prime Minister had dinner with the Hunter's elite but had not taken the opportunity to sit down with the people of Williamtown and "look them in the eye".
"Who can afford to pay that much for a dinner?" she said, while acknowledging that all political parties host fundraising events.
Williamtown residents spokesman Lindsay Clout said it was "obviously" disappointing that Mr Morrison had not met with those affected by ongoing contamination, health and financial issues arising from PFAS, despite the settlement of a class-action lawsuit.
He urged the government to follow the advice of the two parliamentary inquiries which had recommended land buy-backs.
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