The explanation from the Change in Directors Interest in December states:
"Issue of Shares under a capital raising placement after seeking shareholder approval at the 2017 Annual General Meeting of the Company."
The AGM approved this.
I haven't been around long enough to know if this was part of a previous raise finally ratified by the AGM and then issued.
So the timing is historical rather than a decision in December to purchase the shares. They were issued by the company and not purchased on market like this latest $5k.
Theo (Chairman) was also issued with the same amount and there is an associated AGM resolution for him too.