THE No Land Tax Party says it hopes to pay thousands of people who were engaged during the NSW election
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campaign by April 28.
Up to 3600 people, some on the South Coast, were employed to promote the controversial party, but many have not yet been paid.
The party made headlines in the seat of Bega when its candidate, Clyde Robert Archard, drew the number one spot on the ballot paper, but Fairfax Media was unable to contact him throughout the campaign and received no press releases.
Mr Archard was listed on the electoral roll as living in Vincentia, outside the seat.
He was one of many No Land Tax candidates in the state who maintained low profiles during the campaign.
This week, Fairfax Media spoke to a man at Mr Archard’s listed address in Plantation Point Rd, Vincentia, who confirmed Mr Archard owned the house and worked as a chef in Sydney.
Now, party secretary and upper house candidate Peter Jones has told Fairfax Media the party had been “subjected to a bizarre and unlawful campaign” by the Liberal Party and a Sydney radio station.
Mr Jones said this had made the process of paying workers “much more complicated” than anticipated.
He said he had initially hoped to begin pay arrangements, which total more than $1 million, the week before the election.
“I wasn’t able to do that because I was running around filling in our booth rosters,” Mr Jones said.
“Paying people should be really straightforward . . . but because so many people didn’t turn up or people left at different times we have to verify that.
“We’re working as quickly as we can.
“We have suffered the political equivalent of an armed hold-up and it’s causing us delays.”
Mr Jones confirmed no payments were made as of Wednesday morning, but said the party’s campaign was “well organised”.
In an email at the weekend, Mr Jones offered “apologies for the delays in your pay ... and in keeping you informed”.
The email said affected workers would receive a pay slip “on or before Wednesday 15 April”.
“We are legally obliged to pay you NO LATER than Tuesday 28 April 2015. Although we are working to pay everyone sooner than that,” the email said.
Mr Jones said the money was available.
The distribution of preferences for the upper house will be held tomorrow.