NSW Premier Kristina Keneally is hosting a box at U2's Sydney concert, inviting donors to pay $3500 a head to spend a night with her and Bono.
Senior Labor sources confirmed yesterday that Ms Keneally would host the event - at the same time as she is demanding that NSW Opposition Leader Barry O'Farrell agree to a proposal for donations caps of as low as $2000.
U2 will play ANZ Stadium on December 13 and a lucky dozen donors will get the chance to sing With Or Without You with the Premier.
"It's what political parties do in the lead-up to elections," a Labor source said.
"There's an election in March. It's to raise money for the election in March."
The Labor Party has told donors to be in quick to snatch the opportunity to spend the evening with Ms Keneally, with only 12 spots available in the box.
Ms Keneally, a staff member and security will attend and the Party hopes to raise $15,000 from the event, once costs are taken into account.
Ms Keneally's cabinet has discussed a cap of $2000 per individual/corporation per candidate or a $5000 cap overall per individual or corporation.
Public electoral funding would be lifted to accommodate the caps. Ms Keneally has said the proposal can only work if it has bipartisan support and last week met Mr O'Farrell over it.
Mr O'Farrell has said he would only agree to the change if there was also a cap on donations to unions, as he sees this as a backdoor way in which donations can be given to the Labor Party.
Ms Keneally told a budget estimates committee yesterday: "As a government we have made it clear we support campaign finance reform. I have had a discussion with the Leader of the Opposition. He has indicated in the main his bipartisan support and I welcome that.
"He has raised some matters he would like looked at closely, in particular in relation to third parties.
"I have said to the Leader of the Opposition we are closely looking at that."
The Premier said she would be making an announcement on donations reform soon.
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