Andrew Barr invites supporters to $250 drinks fundraiser

This amount happens to be the limit at which a person does not have to declare a political donation or be named on the public record. Donations of more than $250 trigger electoral disclosure rules.

Mr Barr has invited supporters to a two-hour cocktails and canapes function on Thursday night in the bar of the Diamant Hotel to celebrate his eight years as a minister. His spokesman said that about 30 people were expected to the event - one of Mr Barr's regular fundraising nights, which also include trivia nights and comedy events.

Meanwhile, Labor backbencher Yvette Berry discovered just how treacherous political fundraisers can be, when she broke the rules about separation between political and Assembly activities last week.

Ms Berry organised a fundraising movie night on April 30, where she invited families to The Lego Movie at the Palace Electric Cinema, also in the Diamant complex. She charged $20 for children and concessions or $30, and an “extra nice price” of $50. But she made the mistake of including her Assembly office phone number for people who had trouble booking online. After a complaint this week, Assembly Clerk Tom Duncan told her the use of Assembly resources for fundraisers was out of line.

“We try really hard to do everything right, so we’re a bit annoyed with ourselves that this has happened,” an upset Ms Berry said. “But we will be sure to get advice on every single thing in the future.”

No one had phoned the office number anyway, she said.

Ms Berry said her Lego movie fundraiser was aimed at families and at being affordable. At least 50 people had attended, she said.

The Assembly appointed Ken Crispin as its first Commissioner for Standards in February this year; so far no issues have been referred to him.