Federal MP Stuart Robert runs the Fadden Forum, an LNP fundraising body. Credit:AAP "The idea of Labor getting a foothold in my area of the Gold Coast was not particular appealing to me," he told the commission. "The reality is the Labor Party uses these positions as a foothold to then contest other state and federal seats." He conceded $60,000 would look like a lot of money to most voters but said: "If the Labor Party gets a foothold I'll have to spend a lot more money." Mr Robert says he did not pay the money himself, but rather applied to the state party to authorise and make the payments. Despite his role in raising the funds he says he "cannot spend a cent" without first getting his party's approval.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Minister Stuart Robert during question time in Parliament House in February 2016. Credit:Andrew Meares Both Ms Boulton and Ms Stevenson ran as independents despite the support they got from the LNP, via Mr Robert. This has led to allegations the party was seeking to stack the council by stealth. Earlier, Ms Boulton - who was successfully elected to the council - gave evidence in which she said she believed the donations were coming from Mr Robert personally, rather than any party-affiliated body. The $30,000 accounted for two-thirds of all the donations she received in her election bid. But it was not until she came to do her disclosure returns she realised they were listed as "LNP" and "Fadden" donations.

"I was confused," she said. "It prompted me to call Stuart and ask what's going on? What does this mean, I thought you were funding my campaign. And he said, no it's the Fadden Forum." Ms Boulton, who worked for Mr Robert for nearly nine years, said she made the decision to run and was not encouraged to do so by her then boss. She made a point of campaigning on her status as an independent, even though was a former member of the Liberal Party and regarded herself as a conservative LNP supporter. Nonetheless, her opponents claimed she was an LNP "hack" or "stooge". She conceded the LNP funding could make it appear to the public that her independence had been compromised. "I can see that now. I certainly will be paying more attention in future," she said. Perhaps I've been a little naive."

Ms Boulton says she still did not understand how the Fadden Forum worked, despite almost a decade in Mr Robert's office. But Mr Robert says it would be hard for anyone to work for him and not gain an understanding of how the body works. He also said he made it clear to both women that the money would come from the body, not him. "It would be hard to be in my office for such a long time and not understand," he said. "It's a discussion that gets a lot of airtime in my office" Mr Robert gave a rare insight into how the fundraising vehicle - which he has recently renamed simply as The Forum - operates, revealing it charges $1000 a month for membership. He says the fund - which he describes simple as a "segment" of the LNP's bank account - raises more than he could ever need for his own re-election races, with the rest going to general party coffers.

He organisers events himself, manages the database of members and has a bookkeeper come into his office regularly to handle receipts and invoices. Mr Robert is regarded as one of the party's most effective fundraisers. Mr Robert said he originally intended to give Ms Boulton and Ms Stevenson $25,000 but when the former asked for another $5000 he arranged it for both in the interests of "equity". "It's a bit like buying a toy for one child and not the other one," he said. Mr Robert admitted there was some confusion about how to fill in the council candidate's disclosure returns, with both women asking him and him seeking advice from the party. He described it as a "journey of discovery". He agreed that the confusion surrounding where the money was actually coming from had created an impression that the women had been compromised in some way.

The commission also heard from former Tony Abbott press secretary Simone Holzapfel, who now works as a lobbyist and communications specialist. Ms Holzapfel, who represents a number of miners and property developers, has been named as a major donor to the Fadden Forum. She provided campaign services and advice to both Ms Stevenson and Ms Boulton. Loading Ms Stevenson, who is due to appear before the CCC next week, lost her election bid and returned to Mr Robert's employ. Follow us on Facebook