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Follow the money: how lobbying and big donations influence politics in Australia

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Former parliamentarians are taking on new roles as lobbyists. Source: AAP, Getty

Experts say a lack of transparency leaves Australians unaware of "undue influences" at play across all levels of government.


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By Fernando Vives, Rachael Knowles

Presented by Fernando Vives

Source: SBS




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Experts say a lack of transparency leaves Australians unaware of "undue influences" at play across all levels of government.


In February, significant changes were made to the funding and disclosure scheme for federal elections, but these won’t come into effect until 2026.

The rules were changed in an attempt to curb the influence of donors, after Australian political parties collectively spent $418 million in the 2022 Federal Election.

But there are many ways 'big money' can influence Australian politics, and some experts are concerned.

This episode of SBS Examines asks: How do lobbyists and donors influence elections, and what’s the impact on Australia’s democracy?


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