Today is the annual day for what passes for accountability when it comes to political donations, and it’s once again a demonstration of how some of Australia’s most rotten industries spend up big to influence politicians.
With the 2022 federal election done and dusted, the total figure for donations and “other receipts” in 2022-23 revealed by the Australian Electoral Commission today was a small fraction of the previous year, with the NSW and Victorian elections the primary opportunity for election donations. But there are plenty of familiar faces.
The gambling industry was again dominant: it handed over $1 million to state and federal branches of the major parties, led by the various arms of the Australian Hotels Association, which gave $285,000 to politicians. The former Woolies pokies arm, now Endeavour Group, gave nearly $170,000 to federal, NSW and Victorian parties, roughly split between both sides.
The fossil fuel industry was, as always, a key donor, giving over $1 million to the parties, with arch-climate criminals Woodside and Santos together paying nearly $270,000 to their servants in Labor and the Coalition. Big polluter Bluescope Steel handed over $131,000 to the parties, and will now enjoy some taxpayer largesse as well: Labor is giving one of the world’s least efficient, most carbon-intensive and most cossetted steel manufacturers $137 million to keep polluting (and well done to the climate denialists at the Australian Workers Union for helping with that handout).
The big four consulting firms were once again big donors: Deloitte splashed $177,000 on the parties, EY $270,000 (heavily skewed to Labor — $127,000 to federal Labor alone, $56,000 to other branches). KPMG spent $163,000 and PwC, in its final year of buying influence (for now), went out in style, vomiting $370,000 on politicians who were by early 2023 queueing up to kick the tripe out of the firm. Nearly $89,000 of that came from PwC after its appalling misconduct was revealed.
The banking and finance industry made its usual contribution: ANZ $91,000, CBA $137,000, Macquarie $202,000, NAB $138,000, and Westpac $150,000, as part of a broader contribution from the finance and insurance sectors of over $1.7 million.
An emerging donations powerhouse is the pharmaceutical industry, which gave the parties $690,000 during the year — that’s separate from the Pharmacy Guild’s $355,000 contribution, which it may be regretting in the wake of Labor’s unusually consumer-friendly dispensing changes.
Individual donations were of course dominated by Clive Palmer, who continues to spend tens of millions to win virtually no seats in parliaments. It was a relatively quiet year for Clive, who gave $7 million to his political party via Mineralogy. Anthony Pratt, as always a high political roller, gave over $1 million entirely to Labor, confirming that Pratt’s generosity, which has traditionally favoured the conservative side of politics, has shifted with Labor’s political fortunes.
Entrepreneur and climate activist Marcus Catsaras gave Climate 200 $1 million, as part of over $3.5 million in contributions reported by donors to the grouping, including $700,000 from investment guru Robert Keldoulis, and a $20,000 contribution from Crikey investor Nick Fairfax, who also gave to the teals and GetUp. Christopher Pyne’s firm, doubtless to the rage of Cory Bernardi, gave over $37,000 to Labor.
Rex Airlines gave the Liberals and Nationals over $110,000 (thank you John Sharp). The far-right clone of GetUp, Advance Australia, enjoyed a $1 million payout from mystery donor Hadley Holdings, a $100,000 donation from climate denialist Bryant Macfie and $50,000 handouts from traditional Coalition donor Sixmilebridge and fossil fuel fan Trevor St Baker.
Labor promised to introduce lower reporting thresholds and real-time disclosure of donations before the last election. As yet there is no sign of any reform, with less than 18 months to go before the next election and donations likely to be ramping up in 2024 from companies keen to shape policy and cultivate politicians.
Do our political donations laws need overhauling — and do you believe Labor will actually do it? Let us know your thoughts by writing to letters@crikey.com.au. Please include your full name to be considered for publication. We reserve the right to edit for length and clarity.
A ship full of living (only just) cows docked at Fremantle last night and the stench is pervasive but not enough to block out the stink coming down the river from the WA Parliament where Woodside tells Roger Cook how high to jump.
To be fair, the vets say they’re OK. Independent vets. While I’m against live exports too we should stick to the available facts.
I don’t doubt they have a pulse and all their biological functions are juicy enough to keep the market happy. But can a creature without room to move be said to be living?
While I am not against live animal exports. It beggars belief that a plan was not approved during the 10-day return voyage of the ship.
There was a similar event when the Saudis refused to take them a few years ago. Considering how the public here are pissed off with the many publicised cruelty events it beggars belief that contingency plans were not in place long ago.
I’m always astounded at how little it costs large corporations to bribe Australian governments, State and Federal. The figures being bandied about are chump change for these corporations, so many of which pay neglible amounts of tax.
Yeah Narky, chump change indeed. I expressed the same sentiment but comment has gone into that other dimension “waiting approval”.
If we raised more money than the AHA with a go fund me page, could we
bribedonate our way to getting the pokie racket properly controlled?It’s better not to think of the politicians selling the product taken by the large corporations, because then, as you say, it looks like they set their prices absurdly low. The relationship of the big corporations and the ministers is more like wealthy guests at a posh hotel who condescend to tip the more obsequious hotel staff for making their stay pleasant and supplying all their needs.
Yes. Me too. They are bought so cheaply.
Be positive, we’re world leaders in value for money.
I too, am staggered at how little influence costs. In the case of Bluescope Steel, we could crowdfund that amount in a couple of days if it could be guaranteed that those subsidies were off the table. Such a shame we can’t see beyond the tip of this donations iceberg…
Me as well. Every time these figures come out I am just amazed by how cheap our politicians are. I presume (a) it reflects the overall oligopoly conditions, there isn’t much competition between what the pollies can offer and for that matter a limited number of competitors for their favours; (b) the donations are only the visible tip of the iceberg of influence, including lucrative post career consultancies, plus the threats of negative campaigns, including with and through bovver boy media like News.
Institutional interest would suggest Labor has much to gain by creating real time transparency in donations and capping them as well. But perhaps the personal interests of members gets in the way? Hobnobbing with wealthy people who might offer you all sorts of post career opportunities is perhaps a major driver. How cheap these pollies are in more than one sense.
Maybe all politicians need a course in ethics and, a certificate, to confirm their attendance. The certificate must hang on their wall, near the desk so they never forget, This mandatory course must be updated every three years.
Unfortunately too many former ALP MPs in past generation or more, went over to the RW darkside; too easy & can preclude challenges to bad policy, but good for sectors etc.
How the Two party system rigs elections with campaign contributions is explained perfectly by juice media. Search YouTube for “how to rig elections juice media’. I took the link out to evade the awaiting approval bot.
The stench coming off the legalised political bribery system is overwhelming, but it seems the olfactory organs of our politicians are so benumbed they notice nothing; or perhaps their snouts are so deep in the trough they can smell nothing anyway.
True, but it’s apparent that his spending is aimed at more than just winning seats. For example he might be very satisfied with the results of his spending if he really did enough to tip the balance against Labor in 2019. If Palmer can take the credit for giving us Morrison instead of Shorten as PM back then, it must be said Palmer’s largesse has, on occasion, been very effective.
Do these donations afford tax breaks? Just wondering …
2019 result was a total disaster with the most divisive, incompetent and corrupt government in our history.
I am interested to know when the Crown executives of Crown Casino Perth and Sydney can expect their day in court, Then there is the matter of Starr Casino executives to consider. See no evil, speak, no evil, hear no evil, just amazing what a couple of donations can do to slow the process down.
George Monbiot’s Polluter Paradox:
“ The dirtier or more damaging an enterprise is, the more money it must spend on politics to ensure it’s not regulated out of existence. As a result, political funding comes to be dominated by the most harmful companies and oligarchs, which then wield the greatest political influence. They crowd out their more accommodating rivals.”
Some years ago a CEO of the Australian Hotels Association said in all seriousness “democracy does not come cheap”.