by Keith Anderson
Independent candidate for Monash at the upcoming Federal election Deb Leonard has denied accepting donations in breach of the Commonwealth Electoral Act.

Ms Leonard was one of four independent candidates named in a Senate Estimates committee meeting on February 24 by opposition shadow special minister of state Senator Jane Hume as not registering her "electoral entity" - Monash Independent Pty Ltd - with the Australian Electoral Commission's transparency register.
Acting AEC commission Jeff Pope replied "yes" when asked by Senator Hume if an entity would have to "immediately cease accepting donations or incurring electoral expenditure until it had been added to the transparency register."
Speaking to The Gazette, Ms Leonard said she was initially unaware that Monash Independent Pty Ltd, that was registered as a proprietary company with the Australian Securities and Investment Commission on September 11 last year, also had to register with the AEC's transparency register.
She said she had discussions with the AEC since the Senate committee meeting and had listed Monash Independent Pty Ltd on the transparency register in the "past couple of weeks."
Ms Leonard said she had been told by the AEC there were no retrospective repercussions relating to donations she may have received before registering the entity with the AEC.
All election donations do not have to be declared until after the election, she added.
The Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) database shows Monash Investments Pty Ltd has two directors - Deborah Louise Leonard of Cape Woolamai and Kate Elizabeth Leonard of Thornbury - who each hold six of the 12 $1 shares issued.
Debra Louise Leonard is also listed as the company secretary.
Mr Pope also told Sen Hume at the Senate committee hearing the AEC had started "looking into, and had initiated some inquiries with respect to a few" of the four electoral entities she named.
He said he would get back to her with a "bit more once we have completed our inquiries".
Attempts by the Gazette to contact Sen Hume's office by phone and email last week to ask whether the AEC had reported back to her on the progress or outcomes of her inquiries were unsuccessful.
The AEC also did not respond to The Gazette's questions on the outcome of its investigation.
Ms Leonard acknowledged a major donor to her campaign had been the Climate 200 organisation that had contributed more than $360,000.
She said she'd also received community donations from more than 400 people totalling about $350,000.