The Manly Daily yesterday published a picture of a devastated Mr Abbott commiserating Saturday night's election loss with a convicted criminal.
Reflecting on winning his seat of Warringah -- as well as the Liberals' dramatic demise -- the outgoing health minister welcomed the former Manly councillor and solicitor Ian MacDonald to the Manly Leagues Club, where Mr Abbott was holding his official election party.
Mr MacDonald, who spent three years in jail on fraud-related charges, helped Mr Abbott in his quest for another three-year term by handing out how-to-vote cards.
Describing himself as a "good friend" of Mr Abbott, Mr MacDonald later spent time at the club with other Liberal Party die-hards.
Mr MacDonald was Mr Abbott's campaign director in 1995 -- the year before John Howard won government.
The grim doors of Silverwater Jail swung open at 9am last Monday to set free the struck-off Manly solicitor Ian "Macca" MacDonald after had served three years of a 5 year sentence for fraud. He was granted parole by the NSW Parole Board after successfully taking part in a work release program.
Macca will be enthusiastically welcomed back into Manly's rugger and Liberal circles, although some former clients who lost their savings when he looted their trust accounts will be less friendly.
Among those who will be sharing a beer with the convicted fraudster will be the federal Health Minister, Tony Abbott, who told a recent function to mark his 10 years in Canberra: "Just because he [MacDonald] made a few mistakes doesn't mean that he shouldn't be honoured. I look forward to rekindling my friendship with him."
Before his fraud exploits, MacDonald, a former senior partner in the law firm MacDonald Yeldham, was a Liberal councillor on Manly Council, president of the Manly District Rugby Union Club, member of the Manly District Hospital Board and a fundraiser and cheerleader for Abbott in election campaigns.
He came within an ace of becoming Liberal candidate to take the state seat of Manly but the NSW Law Society's hound dogs caught up with him first. [my bolding]
Abbott became a regular visitor at Kirkconnell Prison where Macdonald was serving his five-and-a-half year sentence for embezzling more than $5 million from his clients.
Macdonald, who was once a prominent figure in the Liberal Party, was found guilty on June 29, 2001 of fraudulently omitting to account, making false statements and obtaining money by deception in relation to his clients’ affairs.
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