LNP sends printing to political friends: my problem with it.

My problem with the below story in today’s Courier Mail is is not so much that Michael O’Dwyer’s company is involved in printing LNP materials but the time when he set up the company.  If he was in the printing business before he took over as State director (or in the hierarchy of the party) then I have no problem with it.  If he set up the business after taking on his role as an opportunist to take advantage of his position then I do have a problem with it. 

A LIBERAL National Party heavyweight has been accused of benefiting from campaign expenditure from his own printing companies.

LNP MPs and candidates for the upcoming federal election have been encouraged to buy their election posters from companies owned by state director Michael O'Dwyer.

Company searches show he is the sole director, secretary and a shareholder in Modcons Marketing Services, which owns Phoenix Graphics and Vivid Prints.

Some of the party candidates told The Courier-Mail the LNP head office had arranged the printing of posters, or "corflutes", through Mr O'Dwyer's companies on their behalf.

"What they do is they give you a budget and on the budget line items, they say 'corflutes covered off'," said one candidate.

…

Mr O'Dwyer and LNP president Bruce McIver last night rejected allegations of a conflict of interest, saying a "protocol" was in place.

…

When asked if head office had handed out Phoenix's number to candidates, Mr O'Dwyer said if it had, he "had nothing to do with that at all".

Mr McIver said candidates were given the option of three companies to print corflutes and

Mr O'Dwyer was not allowed to "pay bills or place orders" with his own company. "He has nothing to do with it," he said.

…

Mr O'Dwyer said he was not aware of these complaints, saying he was "at arm's length from it, I don't handle that in here".