Companies associated with Clive Palmer poured $9.6 million into his political party, as part of a $179 million windfall for all political parties last year, the latest Australian Electoral Commission returns report has revealed.
The Palmer United Party donations include nearly $6 million from besieged Queensland Nickel, which recently shed 237 workers just before going into voluntary administration.
Mr Palmer's mining company Mineralogy also donated $3.6 million to PUP, annual financial disclosure returns released by the Australian Electoral Commission on Monday show.
Mr Palmer's now closed Coolum resort gave the party $191,113, with $7775 coming from Palmer Leisure Pty Ltd.
Mr Palmer himself donated $2000.
Donation recipients and spenders
The Liberal party was the biggest recipient of donations in 2014/15, reaping $75.9 million compared with Labor's $65.8 million.
The Nationals received $11.2 million, including $10,780 from tobacco giant Philip Morris, while the Greens took in $9.4 million.
Related reading
Clive Palmer's wife made director of Mineralogy
It was almost $100 million less than the previous year, in which a federal election was held and donations usually peak.
Treasurer Scott Morrison said Mr Palmer, the member for the Queensland seat of Fairfax, was running "a very shabby show".
"It's all fallen apart. It's all gone down the path that I think some of us always thought it would," he told 2GB radio.
"There's a warning in that: if it's too good to be true it usually is and what he was promising and what he was saying ... I think has been laid bare now."
The biggest single contributor to Labor was the investment vehicle Labor Holdings ($2.8 million).
However, individual unions were significant backers and the peak body the ACTU chipped in $2.16 million for "political expenditure" including research, television advertising and other election-related material.
Activist organisation GetUp was the biggest non-party spender in the Australian political scene over the past year, handing over more than $10.6 million.
The group’s recent campaigns have included same-sex marriage, banning live animal exports, saving Tasmania's forests and stopping coal seam gas.
Lobby groups, unions and other bodies pumped $14 million into political expenditure, including television campaigns and polling.
The second largest amount of political spending was $2.16 million by the peak union body, the ACTU.
The World Wide Fund for Nature spent $433,000 on its campaigning for action on climate change and protecting endangered animals, while education unions spent $370,000 seeking a better funding deal for schools.
Greens want change
NSW Greens Senator Lee Rhiannon said today’s release revealed the need for action on corporate donations.
"Political parties should be beholden only to the citizens they are supposed to represent," she said.
"Instead, what we have in Australia is a toxic culture of patronage and profit.
"Millions of dollars from the alcohol, clubs, hotels, developers, tobacco and gaming industry, as well as the mineral resources sector, are poured into the coffers of the major parties.
"The Greens’ Donations Reform Bill would ban political donations from mining companies, property developers, big tobacco, alcohol and gambling industries.
"This would help to reduce the corrupting influence of corporate donations that has clearly eroded public confidence and trust.
"The pressure is on Prime Minister Turnbull to clean up politics before the election.
"A federal ICAC would help to cork the flow of any dodgy dealings across the board."
Breakdown of Liberal received donations
The Liberals received large donations from Brunswick Property ($600,000), software company Parakeelia ($500,000), Paul Marks ($325,000), Pratt Holdings ($200,000), Coles Group ($165,000) and Woodside Energy ($127,000).
Share
