Taxpayers fork out $63mln for parties

The Australian Electoral Commission says political parties and candidates running at the 2016 federal election received $62.8 million in public funding.

Political parties and candidates reaped $62.8 million in public funding for the 2016 federal election campaign, a new report shows.

The Australian Electoral Commission reported the bulk of the funding - based on the formula of $2.62 per vote won - went to the Liberal Party ($24.2 million) and the ALP ($23.2 million).

The Greens were paid out $6.7 million while the Nationals earned $3.26 million.

Of the minor parties, Pauline Hanson's One Nation had a $1.75 million payday.

Under federal electoral laws, the parties are not required to provide evidence that funds were "either committed or spent in the running of an election campaign".

The AEC found 133 errors while conducting compliance reviews of disclosure returns from political parties, unions and party fundraising bodies, the report showed.

However they were all allowed to make corrections rather than face any tougher action.

The AEC identified seven individuals whose donations were above the $13,200 threshold, including long-time Greens supporter and Wotif founder Graeme Wood.


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Source: AAP



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