U2 360° Tour hits Sydney - All Discussion here

Kristina Keneally got no political donors to pay $3500 a head for a U2 concert

THIS gives a whole new meaning to the term Pro Bono.

The NSW Labor Party asked political donors to pay $3500 a head to join Premier Kristina Keneally at a U2 concert on December 14 in a last-ditch bid to raise funds ahead of the election - but did not get a single taker.

In the end, Ms Keneally did not show up on the night, sources said, and Labor head office and government staffers were left to enjoy the sounds of Bono and the Edge.

Ms Keneally was to host the box in one of the final fundraisers of the year before new laws on January 1 restricted donations from corporations to $5000 a year or $2000 per candidate.

Labor's general secretary Sam Dastyari refused to comment yesterday but it is understood he and his wife were among the head office identities to attend.

"The whole thing was a joke. Kristina was in Parliament announcing her ban on political donations while at the same time Sam was flogging tickets to a night with Kristina and Bono," a source said.

"Eventually Sussex St got the message they were selling a turkey so Sam started giving them away. He didn't have enough to fill the box so eventually he just gave them to the Premier's Department.

"At a time when the NSW ALP doesn't have a dollar to spare, the whole mess has cost them a bundle."