… is he scared of losing tens of thousands in political donations for the Liberals?
Political Donations 2013-14
Recently you asked if the (Parliamentary) Library could verify the information contained in the following piece which you sent to me. I have indicated throughout the piece in square brackets where I have been able to confirm the information provided. I also attach links to a Crikey article on the funding (link below not working) and other articles about specific donations. I hope this helps.
Electoral funding data released today by the Australian Electoral Commission reveals that political donations in the 2013-2014 financial year hit a record $202 million, which is a sixfold increase from the previous year.
Labor and the Coalition parties share the bulk of that money coming in with over $92 million for the Liberals and $69 million for Labor. In addition, more than 60 per cent of the donations received by the Liberal and Labor parties were not disclosed.
[See the Crikey article on 2 Feb 2015 Liberals blow Labor away in chase for cash ( link not working )]
Some data from the AEC findings;
* Group Colleges Australia donated $16,000 to the Liberal Party in the lead up to the May 2014 budget – $19 000 in total [both confirmed]. Group Colleges stands to benefit from the Abbott government’s proposed higher education changes that would publicly fund private higher education companies.
[The AEC database indicates that Group Colleges Australia donated to the Liberal Party the following amounts on these dates. 6 Aug 2013: $3000; 28 Jan 2014: $5000; 18 Feb 2014: $11,000. Total: $19,000]
* Aspen Medical donated $30 000 to the Liberal Party of Australia [confirmed]. There is no declaration by the donor as it is registered as an “other receipt”. Aspen Medical was handed a $20 million contract by the Abbott government to address the Ebola epidemic in West Africa.
[Canberra Times 4/2/2015: http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22media%2Fpressclp%2F3638443%22 (Aspen)]
* Adani, the company trying to build Queensland’s largest coal mine, donated $49 500 to the Liberal Party of Australia [confirmed]. ( cheap for what they were going to get)
[Crikey 2/2/2015: http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22media%2Fpressclp%2F3636107%22 (Mentions Adani)
Courier Mail 3/2/2015: http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22media%2Fpressclp%2F3636834%22 (Adani)]
* Tobacco company Philip Morris donated $45 000 to the Liberal Party of Australia [confirmed].
* Coal seam gas company Santos donated $294 000 to Labor and the Coalition, including $34,000 to the Nationals.
[The AEC database records that Santos donated to the ALP: $108,841; to the LPA: $120,312; to the LNP: $32,065; to the NPA: $32,935}
* Clive Palmer donated $25.9 million to the Palmer United Party through various companies he controls. (Tax deductible I presume)
[The AEC database records PUP total receipts of $28,827,604. The following articles may be useful: Courier Mail 3/2/2015: http://parlinfo/parlInfo/search/summary/summary.w3p;adv=yes;orderBy=date-eFirst;page=0;query=Content%3Apalmer%20(Date%3A02%2F02%2F2015%20%3E%3E%20)%20Dataset%3Apressclp;resCount=Default#33 (Palmer United Party donations)
Mercury 3/2/2015: http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22media%2Fpressclp%2F3637100%22 (breakdown of Palmer companies donating to PUP)
Australian 3/2/2015: http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22media%2Fpressclp%2F3637460%22 (breakdown of Palmer donations]
* Gina Rinehart donated $25 000 to Julie Bishop’s campaign through Hancock Coal Infrastructure Pty Ltd. [confirmed] ( another cheapie)
* Leighton Holdings, selected for first stage of WestConnex construction, donated $13 500 collectively to the Labor and Liberal Parties.
[The AEC database records two donations of $10,700 and $3000 for a total of $13,700]
* Trans urban, a company closely linked to Commission of Audit Chair Tony Shepherd donated $180 000 to the Liberal Party.
[Unable to confirm amount but following articles may be useful:
Australian Financial Review 13/8/2014: http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22media%2Fpressclp%2F3332179%22 (links Shepherd and Transurban)
Australian Financial Review 3/2/2014: http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22media%2Fpressclp%2F3636454%22 (latest Transurban project)]
It has taken 18 months for the Australian public to find out who bankrolled the 2013 Federal Election much coming from private companies who have gone on to receive government money, or in the case of Group Colleges Australia, a bill that if passed would see millions flow to private for profit higher education companies.
Prime Minister Abbott didn’t bother to tell the public that Aspen Medical was a donor to the Liberal Party prior to announcing his decision to give the company a $20 million contract to work on the Ebola outbreak.
