Greens won’t refund donation from animal abuser

Newsroom reports:

A woman known for severe neglect of animals donated $53,970 to the Greens over 2019 and 2020, but despite saying it wasn’t aware of the abuse, the party – known for its strong stance on animal welfare – won’t be giving the money back. Pete McKenzie reports. 

The Green Party says it won’t return two five-figure donations from a woman convicted of animal neglect which required several horses to be put down.

Three weeks before being sentenced in the District Court for animal neglect described by the SPCA as amongst the worst it had ever seen, Lindsay Fraser donated $29,000 to the Green Party’s 2020 election campaign. She had also donated $24,970 a year earlier, making her one of the party’s biggest donors.

Off memory the Greens often call for other parties to refund donations, when the donor gets caught up in some sort of reputational issue.

Yet again they prove they are no strangers to hypocrisy.

Newsroom visited Fraser at her Masterton farm and confirmed she made the donation. She also asserted she was a long-time member of the Green Party who has repeatedly contributed financially to the party’s political efforts. She then alleged she was the victim of an illegal campaign of “harassment and bullying” by the SPCA.

Doesn’t sound repentant does she?

A person familiar with Fraser’s court case, speaking on condition of anonymity in order to talk frankly, said Fraser viewed herself as an animal welfare advocate. 

I guess she could be seen as that, in the sense that Clayton Weatherston is a victims welfare advocate.