The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) has released its political donations data for the 2024-25 financial year, indicating a record level of political donations in Australia. The comprehensive data details significant contributions made to major political parties, independent candidates, and various third-party organizations, alongside reported spending by the main political parties.
The AEC data for the 2024-25 financial year shows a record level of political donations in Australia.
Overall Political Spending Highlights
The Liberal and National parties collectively reported spending approximately $215 million prior to the election. The Labor party reported spending approximately $160 million during the same period.
Major Individual and Corporate Contributions
The data identifies numerous significant donations from individuals and corporations:
- Clive Palmer's Companies: Mineralogy contributed $53.1 million to the Trumpet of Patriots party and an additional $3,029,012 to the United Australia party.
- Pamela Wall: Donated $5.2 million to the Liberal party’s South Australian division.
- Pratt Holdings (Anthony Pratt): Contributed $2 million to Labor and $1 million to the Liberal party.
- Duncan Turpie: Donated $1.05 million to the Greens.
- Oryxium (Frank Lowy-linked investment company): Contributed $1.8 million to the Liberal party.
- Hancock Prospecting (Gina Rinehart): Donated $105,000 to the Liberal party's Victorian division.
- S Kidman & Co (Rinehart-owned): Contributed $99,000 to the Western Australian Liberal division.
- Fox Group (Lindsay Fox): Donated $500,000 to Labor and $500,000 to the Liberals.
- Australian Capital Equity (Kerry Stokes): Contributed $300,000 to Labor and $500,000 to the Liberals.
- DoorDash: Donated $785,000 to the Liberals.
- Adani: Contributed over $620,000 to the Liberals.
- Hemmes Trading (Justin Hemmes): Donated over $300,000 to the Liberals.
Fossil fuel companies, including Woodside and Chevron, and gambling companies such as Sportsbet and Tabcorp, also made donations to major parties.
Focus on Third-Party Organizations
Advance Australia
Advance Australia reported total receipts of $13.5 million for the 2024-25 financial year. Of this amount, $5.3 million was from disclosed sources, with $8.2 million from undisclosed sources.
The organization spent $1.7 million on social media advertising during the election campaign, primarily promoting anti-immigration policies. Advance Australia stated it was responsible for weakening the Greens political party. The group reported receiving 52,898 contributions from 15,758 individual donors, with 92% of donations being $150 or less.
Key Donors to Advance Australia:- Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd (associated with Gina Rinehart): $895,000.
- O’Neil family: A total of $600,000 through Willimbury Pty Ltd ($300,000), Sixmilebridge Pty Ltd ($200,000), and Nedigi Pty Ltd ($100,000). Sixmilebridge Pty Ltd also donated $130,000 to the Liberal Party.
- SP Newcastle Pty Limited (linked to Rob Milner): $250,000.
- Rod Tunley: $246,000.
- David Steele: $226,500.
- Angus Aitken: $200,000.
- Silver River Investment Holdings as trustee for the Fenwick Family Trust (linked to Simon Fenwick): $200,000. Simon Fenwick also personally donated $50,000.
- Consolidated Press Holdings Pty Limited (associated with James Packer): $150,000.
- Andrew Gillies: $145,000.
- Siesta Holdings Australia Pty Ltd (Sam Kennard): $125,000.
- Brian Anderson: $100,000 (and an additional $150,000 to the Liberal Party).
- Harbig Cunningham Trust: $100,000. Harbig Nominees Pty Ltd, which holds assets for the trust, lists Mark Leibler, Anne Neate, and Richard Harbig as shareholders. Richard Harbig is also a director of the Harbig Family Foundation.
- John Hull, Nedigi Pty Ltd, Paslibdan Pty Ltd, PCI Pty Ltd (Peter Cooper), and Quentin Birt each contributed $100,000.
Several donors to Advance Australia have connections to charities associated with the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, including Rod Tunley, David Steele, Andrew Gillies, Gavin Grace, and Peter Grace.
Coal Australia
The lobby group Coal Australia provided over $5.1 million to organizations such as Australians for Prosperity, Energy for Australians, and Jobs for Mining Communities. The group also contributed approximately $240,000 to the Liberals and Nationals.