Menu Close

Articles on Political finance

Displaying 1 - 20 of 22 articles

AEC disclosures revealed Malcolm Turnbull to be the single biggest donor to a political party in 2016-17. AAP/Dan Peled

The truth about political donations: there is so much we don’t know

The annual February festival of lampooning the largest visible donor lulls Australians into a false sense of security that there is a functioning political donations disclosure regime in place.
Malcolm Turnbull’s donation of $1.75 million to the Liberal Party is the largest single donation in Australian political history. AAP/Mick Tsikas

Turnbull’s $1.75 million donation is bad news for Australian democracy

The struggle for political equality has shaped Australian democracy. But it’s undermined by having a political donations system that benefits the rich at the expense of other Australians.

Interactive: a snapshot of political donations in Australia for 2015-16

Check out our interactives showing the total donations to Australia’s major parties in 2015-16, who the biggest donors to the parties were, and how donations to parties have changed in recent years.
Malcolm Turnbull’s rumoured personal donation to the Liberal Party was not disclosed as part of the AEC’s donation disclosures for 2015-16. AAP/Lukas Coch

Why, only now, are we finding out who the biggest donors in an election year were?

Disclosures add to transparency. They allow us to follow the money and scrutinise who has made large donations. But mere disclosure does not remedy the inequity in Australia’s current system.
Politicians often argue lobbying is going to happen anyway, so there’s little harm in demanding donations from those seeking their time. Shutterstock

What do businesses get in return for their political donations?

Our political donations disclosure regime is so opaque, we don’t really know who’s paying how much and what they get in return. But the lengths players go to hide donations gives cause for suspicion.
Australia’s two major political parties are highly dependent on contributions from business by the standards of other rich democracies. AAP/Lukas Coch

No bribes please, we’re corrupt Australians!

Australia’s political finance system is corrupt – but not because of bribery, or indeed any substantial quid pro quo.

Infographic: a snapshot of political donations in Australia

Who are the major donors to Australia’s big political parties? And what are the rules around disclosure at state and federal level?

Top contributors

More