The Write Direction: Election funding donations

WE have a Federal Election every three years and a State Election every four years.

Governments provide funding for this purpose, while the private sector likes to contribute money by way of donations in order to support the candidate or party of their choice.

Large donations can be viewed on a register available to the general public.

The threshold for declaring donations is triggered for any amount over $16,900, with donations below that level not required to be disclosed.

While donations in Australian elections equate to a mere pittance of that spent in the USA and other large democracies, the $131 million donated in our 2025 federal election is large enough to make us all think.

So, who is making these large donations and what are they trying to achieve with these funds?

Records show that much of the donated money comes from the fossil fuel industry and lobby groups such as those representing the gambling or hotel sectors.

Well-known companies such as Sportsbet handed out $143,000, Tabcorp $131,500, the Lottery Corporation $123,000, with these funds being spread across Liberal, Labor and National parties.

Banking and financial companies such as Macquarie Group gave $205,000, Westpac $193,000, Commonwealth Bank $174,000 and crypto money groups such as Coinbase $230,000 and Swyftx $201,000.

The Australian Hotels Association donated $314,000 and Hemmes Trading gave $312,000.

Endeavour Group donated $184,000 and Lion Brewing $130,000.

On top of this we have the usual big hitters such as Australia’s wealthiest woman Gina Rinehart and fellow WA group the Holmes a’ Court family donating generously to achieve their objectives.

We also can’t forget Clive Palmer donating to his Trumpet of Patriots.

Elsewhere, the controversial Adani Mining contributed $842,500 and Adelaide personality Pamela Wall gave $5.2 million to the SA Liberal Party.

Some donate to multiple parties, for example food delivery group Door Dash who splashed out $785,000 to the Libs and $92,500 to the ALP.

It is not clear to me how much the unions or union-dominated superannuation funds donated at election time, but the suggestion is that their large donations would be going to left wing political groups.

All of this should provide the voting public with interesting thoughts as to who is really running the country and who is paying the price needed to move things in their favour.

By John BLACKBOURN