Tens of millions of dollars have been funnelled to major political parties as pressure for donation reform ramps up ahead of the federal election.
The federal Labor Party's total receipts eclipsed $15 million, the federal Liberals more than $11 million, the federal Nationals $2.5 million and the federal Greens more than $4.8 million, according to 2023-24 Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) disclosures.
All have associated state branches that received a combined tens of millions of dollars more in donations.
Pratt Holdings, the company of billionaire Anthony Pratt, donated $1 million to federal Labor.
Mining giant Hancock Prospecting, headed by billionaire Gina Rinehart, donated $325,000 to the Liberal National Party of Queensland, $75,000 to the Country Liberal Party of the Northern Territory and $100,000 to the Liberals South Australia branch.
Betting big on politics
Wagering companies also donated tens of thousands of dollars to Labor as the government mulled reforming sports betting before ultimately shelving any legislation.
Sportsbet donated $88,000, Tabcorp $60,500 and Responsible Wagering Australia, the peak body for Australian-licensed wagering service providers, $66,000.
Sportbet's donation to Labor on 26 June 2024 came weeks before news leaked the government
When asked earlier today why the government had rejected this recommendation, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said his government had "taken more action on problem gambling than any government since Federation".
"We've introduced BetStop, which has helped people substantially. We've banned the use of credit cards online as well, which was a big issue of sport gambling," he told the Daily Aus podcast.
Sportsbet also donated $60,000 to the Liberals and $15,000 to the Nationals.
Tabcorp donated tens of thousands of dollars more to Labor's state divisions, on top of more than $90,000 to the Liberals and Nationals and their associated state branches.
Greens senator Larissa Waters has taken aim at the major parties over today's disclosures.
"The Labor government have dropped their planned gambling advertising reform, and the Liberals never had any such plans — people will wonder if it's because they keep getting these donations from the gambling companies, from the pokies and from the Hotels Association," the Greens democracy spokesperson said.
However, major parties weren't the only beneficiaries of gambling largesse, with Gold Coast gambler and mathematician Duncan Turpie donating around $275,000 to various branches of the Australian Greens.
In early 2024, the Brisbane Times reported that Turpie had donated $472,088 to the party since 2017.
In response to a question from SBS News on this donation, Waters said: "Donations received from winnings made at the expense of gambling companies do not influence the Greens' position on gambling, unlike the major parties who benefit from the profits of those companies."
SBS News has contacted the Labor and Liberal parties for comment but is yet to receive a reply.
Proposed electoral donations reforms
Electoral donations reform is back on the agenda as parliament resumes for perhaps the last sitting fortnight before a federal election is called.
The government and Opposition haven't yet reached a deal about appropriate donations and expenditure caps.
Under the proposed changes, the donation disclosure threshold will be reduced to $1,000 — from the current $16,900.
Candidates will be limited to spending $800,000 per election campaign and can only receive donations of up to $20,000 from an individual.
There will also be a cap on federal spending for non-political parties of $11 million, which covers unions and special interest groups like Climate 200, while registered political parties will have a ceiling of $90 million.
Political parties will also get more cash per vote from the AEC.
But independents have branded the proposal a major party stitch-up that props up Labor and Liberal coffers with public money by increasing the amount they receive back from the electoral commission.
The caps also make it harder for independents only running in a single seat to compete with major parties who also have access to tens of millions of dollars to spend on advertising.
The legislation is due to come back before the Senate in the coming days.
