Labor candidate and a prominent face in the Indian community in Melbourne, Jasvinder Sidhu who has thrown his hat in the ring for the state seat of Tarneit, has denied the allegations of misusing the funds donated to his not-for-profit organisation, Let's Feed to pay for Labor memberships.
"It is a smear campaign to damage my reputation as I seek pre-selection for the Labor Party in the seat of Tarneit," Mr Sidhu told SBS Hindi.
Let's Feed, a not-for-profit organisation founded by Mr Sidhu raises funds and distributes donated food to needy people and to schools in Melbourne's west.
On Tuesday, Liberal MP Tim Smith accused Mr Sidhu of using donations made to Let's Feed being used for branch stacking.
MP Smith used his parliamentary privilege on Tuesday and called on the government to “fully investigate this new low in the pattern of rorting under the Andrews Labor government”.
"Mr Sidhu has stacked hundreds of members from the Indian community into the Labor Party in an attempt to ensure his preselection for Tarneit," Mr Smith was quoted saying by .
"Mr Sidhu's so-called charity collects cash donations from cash boxes scattered across the western suburbs and solicits for donations into a mysterious bank account that pays for Labor party memberships," he said.
But Mr Sidhu countered this claim and says, “I have never touched the donation boxes kept at the shop. The shopkeepers collect and make the deposit to the bank.”
Consumer Affairs Minister Marlene Kairouz told Parliament the consumer regulator was investigating Let's Feed's fundraising activities.
Mr Sidhu has welcomed the investigation. He told SBS Hindi the accounts of Let's Feed are audited every year by an independent accountant.
"I welcome the investigation and I am happy to show the bank account statement to anyone who wishes to see it,” he said.
“These allegations do not bother me at all. The question is why now?,” he asks.
Mr Sidhu won 54% of the local vote against rival Sarah Connolly and is seeking to be Labor's 2018 election candidate for the state seat of Tarneit being vacated by former speaker Telmo Languiller.
