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Australian Electoral Commission Releases 2024-25 Political Donation Data, Highlighting Major Contributions to Parties and Third-Party Groups

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AEC Reveals Surge in Political Donations for 2024-25 Financial Year

The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) has released its political donations data for the 2024-25 financial year, revealing a substantial increase in overall political donations across Australia. The data details significant contributions to various political parties and third-party campaigning organizations, alongside discussions within the Liberal Party regarding donor funding and preference strategies.

The Liberal and National parties collectively spent approximately $215 million before the election, while the Labor party spent $160 million, ultimately securing an election victory.

Overall Spending and Major Party Contributions

Political donations in Australia reached a high during the 2024-25 financial year. Leading parties' expenditures prior to the election included:

  • Liberal and National Parties: Approximately $215 million.
  • Labor Party: $160 million.

Specific significant contributions to political parties included:

  • Clive Palmer’s Mineralogy: $53.1 million to Trumpet of Patriots and an additional $3,029,012 to the United Australia Party.
  • Pamela Wall: $5.2 million to the Liberal Party’s South Australian division.
  • Pratt Holdings (Anthony Pratt): $2 million to Labor and $1 million to the Liberal Party.
  • Duncan Turpie: $1.05 million to the Greens.
  • Oryxium (Frank Lowy-linked investment company): $1.8 million to the Liberal Party.
  • Hancock Prospecting (Gina Rinehart): $105,000 to the Liberal Party's Victorian division. S Kidman & Co, also owned by Rinehart, donated $99,000 to the Western Australian Liberal division.
  • Australian Capital Equity (Kerry Stokes): $300,000 to Labor and $500,000 to the Liberals.
  • Fox Group (Lindsay Fox): $500,000 to Labor and $500,000 to the Liberals.
  • DoorDash: $785,000 to the Liberals.
  • Adani: Over $620,000 to the Liberals.
  • Hemmes Trading (Justin Hemmes): Over $300,000 to the Liberals.

Donations were also made to major parties by fossil fuel companies such as Woodside and Chevron, and gambling companies including Sportsbet and Tabcorp.

Third-Party Campaigning Organizations

Several third-party organizations received substantial funding, playing a significant role in the political landscape.

Coal Australia

Coal Australia, a lobby group, provided over $5.1 million to organizations including Australians for Prosperity, Energy for Australians, and Jobs for Mining Communities. It also contributed nearly $240,000 directly to the Liberal and National parties.

Advance Australia

Advance Australia reported $13.5 million in receipts during the 2024-25 financial year, with $5.3 million from disclosed sources and $8.2 million from undisclosed sources. Its receipts notably increased from $2.4 million in 2018-19.

The group spent $1.7 million on social media advertising during the election campaign, promoting anti-immigration policies.

Advance campaigns against net-zero climate policies and immigration, and advocates to "save Australia Day." The group stated it was responsible for weakening the Greens political party. Advance identifies itself as an independent third-party campaign organization with no relationship with the Liberal Party. Its executive director, Matthew Sheahan, has reportedly never been a member of any political party.

Major donors to Advance Australia included:

  • Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd: $895,000.
  • O’Neil family (via Willimbury Pty Ltd, Sixmilebridge Pty Ltd, and Nedigi Pty Ltd): A total of $600,000. Sixmilebridge Pty Ltd also donated $130,000 to the Liberal Party.
  • SP Newcastle Pty Limited (linked to Rob Milner): $250,000.
  • 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 (linked to James Packer): $150,000. This marks Mr. Packer's first reported significant political contribution since 2012.
  • Rod Tunley: $246,000.
  • David Steele: $226,500.
  • Andrew Gillies: $145,000.
  • Other donors contributing $100,000 or more include Sam Kennard, Brian Anderson, Peter Cooper, Michael O’Hara, Quentin Birt, and the Harbig Cunningham Trust.

Some donors to Advance Australia were identified as having connections to charities associated with the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church.

Liberal Party Dynamics and Donation Shifts

James Packer's $150,000 donation to Advance Australia prompted discussion among some Liberal Members of Parliament (MPs) regarding a potential redirection of funding towards conservative groups. Anonymous Liberal MPs reported an attempt by a conservative faction within the party to increase its influence. A report alleged that former Prime Minister Tony Abbott sought to appoint Advance's executive director, Matthew Sheahan, as the head of the New South Wales (NSW) Liberal branch. A spokesman for Mr. Abbott denied these claims, stating they were false and noting Mr. Sheahan does not reside in NSW.

Mr. Packer's previous donations to the Liberal Party reportedly ceased around the time of a reported disagreement with the party. Some within the party expressed that a shift in donor support to conservative organizations over the Liberal Party could be a "bad sign," suggesting donors may be seeking groups perceived as more conservative.

The Liberal Party is reportedly debating whether to advise voters to preference One Nation last, a strategy employed during the Howard era, or to engage in preference deals with Pauline Hanson's party, particularly ahead of the Farrer by-election. Individuals with reported ties to Advance, including Mr. Abbott and Andrew Hastie, have expressed openness to preference deals with One Nation.

New Donation Laws

New political donation laws, effective from July, will limit individual donations to a candidate or party to $50,000. However, donations to separate branches will be counted distinctly, potentially allowing a donor to contribute up to $450,000 across a fully structured federal party.