AEC 2021-22 political donations reveal shift in industry backing
The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) has today released the FY2021-22 annual disclosure returns for Australia’s political parties, third parties, donors and members of parliament.
The Australian Labor Party (ALP) has received donations from a string of media and marketing outlets including Free TV, Google, Nine, News Corp-owned REA Group and Ten (Paramount) during the period.
The period covers the previous Australian Federal Election, which saw the Australian Labor Party, led by Anthony Albanese take power from the Coalition Government, led by Scott Morrison.
The Australian Labor Party received donations from a host of media and marketing outlets in FY2021-22
Meanwhile the Australian Liberal Party received only a small number of donations from the media and marketing industry including $30,000 from Ten, $60,000 from Asahi, $60,000 from Rosaline Packer (widow of Kerry Packer) and $2.3 million from Westpac, the latter of which was received by the NSW branch of the past.
The AEC returns include individuals and companies who donated more than $14,500 in total, with the threshold indexed on 1 July each year.
The last financial year saw an overall drop in donations from media networks and industry bodies, particularly compared to the FY2019-20 disclosure returns, which reported $31,182 in total donations from Free TV Australia, and significant donations from Nine, including $62,906 to the Liberal Party of Australia and $27,500 to the ALP.
The full list of donor returns can be viewed on the AEC website.
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