A Labor MP accepted an Oroton handbag and chocolates from a constituent after protesting to the government on their behalf.
Anne Stanley, member for Werriwa in Sydney’s south-west, declared the gift worth $420 on Friday, April 12.
She said in her statement that the gift was “from a constituent, after making a statement on his behalf.”
Ms Stanley, a local member since 2016, did not specify what exactly she did with the chocolates or the handbag.
A little-known MP has accepted an Oroton handbag from a constituent after protesting on their behalf to senior politicians
Ms Stanley is the Labor MP for Werriwa in Sydney’s south-west
The gesture was called for by the OpenPoliticsAU blog, run by former ministerial aide Sean Johnson.
“Holy crap,” they tweeted. “This is inappropriate.”
Ms Stanley – the local member for the seat once held by Labor party leaders Gough Whitlam and Mark Latham – told Daily Mail Australia on Monday that “all statements have been made in accordance with parliamentary rules and requirements.”
It is common for MPs to make representations to ministers and departments about the situation of their constituents, such as help navigating Centrelink or Medicare.
Since Ms Stanley was elected in 2016, she has spoken in Parliament about the rising cost of living and how tough the crisis is on her constituents.
She has also recently spoken out about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, condemning the “distressing… level of destruction we are seeing in the occupied Palestinian territories.”
Children die from malnutrition. This is unacceptable,” she said in March.
“More children have been killed in Gaza in the past five months than in all conflicts worldwide in the past four years. Gaza has now become the most dangerous place in the world if you are a child.”
Ms. Stanley called on Israel to allow more humanitarian aid “at an absolute minimum,” and advocates a “lasting two-state solution with an independent Palestinian state.”
Anne Stanley, Labor member for Werriwa in Sydney’s south-west, declared the gift – worth $420 – on Friday, April 12
On her official website, she provides constituents with insight into how she can and cannot help them navigate a variety of government services.
On immigration, Ms Stanley said her office can provide clarity on how to understand the visa process and liaise with the Home Office on the progress of a visa application.
But she will not “write letters of support, recommend which visa to apply for, assist in applying for the visa, expedite the application or provide legal advice.”
She also provides assistance to Services Australia, promising to help her constituents understand Centrelink, Medicare or Child Support services and track the progress of applications.
As with immigration, she ruled out the question of processing an application more quickly or completing applications on behalf of voters.