Dumped Liberal MP Dennis Jensen, who is running as an independent in his WA electorate of Tangney, has hit out at his former party's use of controversial election software owned by a major Liberal donor.

Key points: Liberal MPs pay $2,500 each for Feedback voter tracking software owned by Parakeelia

Liberal MPs pay $2,500 each for Feedback voter tracking software owned by Parakeelia Parakeelia has donated $1m to the Liberal Party

Parakeelia has donated $1m to the Liberal Party Mr Jensen says software has legitimate use, but is also used for political purposes

7.30 has obtained the user manual for Feedback, a program based on American technology that builds on the electoral roll and logs every interaction a constituent has with an electorate office.

Mr Jensen said sensitive information, in some cases including details about domestic disputes, could be included in the database, which MPs pay for using their electorate allowance.

"The purpose that's not so legitimate is basically the parties — and in the case of Feedback it's the Liberal Party, but the Labor Party's got a similar program — basically they suck up all of that information: people, what their issues are, what their voting intentions might be," Mr Jensen told 7.30.

"Obviously of concern is you have sensitive information in Feedback, that constituents may very well not want you to have."

Company donated $1 million to Liberal Party

Feedback is owned by a company called Parakeelia, which is wholly owned by the Liberal Party.

Parakeelia is wholly owned by the Liberal Party.

Its directors include federal party boss, Tony Nutt, and former minister, Richard Alston.

Former Melbourne Lord Mayor and Liberal figure Ron Walker is listed as a major shareholder on ASIC documents.

Mr Walker told 7.30 that was a mistake and he was involved in the company's establishment but resigned in December 2002.

He said party figures confirmed to him he had resigned, and his remaining on the company documents was an error.

In the last financial year, Parakeelia was the second biggest donor to the federal Liberal Party, donating $500,000.

All up, the company has donated more than $1 million.

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'If there's not a vote in it, don't do it'

7.30 has also obtained correspondence from then Liberal Party boss, Brian Loughnane, addressed to federal Feedback users urging them to promptly pay the $2,500 fee.

Mr Jensen said he understood nearly all MPs paid for the software.

"It was a very clear understanding that there's Feedback training provided to staff members and basically the training is to use it as a database politically rather than to assist constituents," he said.

"Indeed, the instruction given by Feedback trainers is if there's not a vote in it, don't do it."

In the Feedback user manual, the first page states: "It is important to remember that we do not discuss Feedback outside of the office".

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On Wednesday, Finance Minister Mathias Cormann defended the program.

"The work expenses arrangements that you refer to apply equally to all members of Parliament across the board," he said.

"I think you will find that the arrangements that are accessed, in terms of the relevant software by Liberal members and senators, are the same as those accessed by Labor members and senators, and indeed, are accessible by all members of Parliament on the same basis."

The Labor Party uses a similar program called Campaign Central, which was developed by a software company that does not appear to donate back to the party.

Even so, the program has caused the ALP trouble during the campaign.

Former NSW party boss, Jamie Clements, had a mention before a registrar this week on charges of illegally accessing the electoral roll.

Mr Clements denies the allegations.

Dr Peter Chen, from the University of Sydney, is concerned by both parties' access to information and public funds.

"They are an open secret," he told 7.30.

"They are a distortion of the democratic process and I think most people wouldn't accept that this is legitimate, and when we see large amounts of money moving around, people get concerned."

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