Tens of millions of dollars have been funnelled to major political parties as pressure for donation reform hots up ahead of a 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.
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 peak body Responsible Wagering Australia $66,000.
Sportbet's donation to Labor on June 26, 2024 came weeks before news leaked the government had decided to reject a recommended blanket advertising ban in favour of caps.
It 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.
Climate200 - which largely finances teal independents - marked $6 million in total receipts for the same financial year, with more than $1 million received from Keldoulis Investments and a further $1 million from Marcus Catsaras.
It donated $145,000 to Zoe Daniel, $132,000 to Monique Ryan, almost $80,000 to Allegra Spender, $40,000 to Kylea Tink and about $30,000 to both Kate Chaney and Zali Steggall.
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.
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 $1000, 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.
