Political donations
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IBAC
Labor, Nationals argue against developer donation ban
IBAC has suggested a ban on donations from risky industries like property developers – but Labor and the Nationals argued against such a move just this month.
- by Rachel Eddie
Latest
Opinion
Political leadership
Don’t let the political duopoly block the little guys
On the face of it, reforming the rules governing political donations sounds good. But be careful what you wish for.
- by Ross Gittins
Exclusive
Victorian election
For major parties, spending arms race means odds are ever in their favour
Labor and the Coalition enjoy special benefits in donations laws that should be removed to eliminate “entrenching incumbency”, a leading integrity body says.
- by Royce Millar
With legal fees mounting, team Trump channels more money to ‘Save America’
The fine-print manoeuvre is potentially substantial: based on his campaign’s fund-raising figures, it may already have sent $2.25 million to the PAC that can pay his legal fees.
- by Shane Goldmacher and Maggie Haberman
Exclusive
ALP
Teals fear new donations rules could kill off independents’ movement
Labor’s Don Farrell shrugged off the teal movement’s concern that new election spending rules will stymie independents.
- by Paul Sakkal
Exclusive
Greens
Greens pull political stunt to force Labor into reconsidering its own stalled donations laws
Greens MP Brad Pettitt will introduce a near exact reproduction of Labor’s own Electoral Amendment Bill it introduced in parliament in June 2020.
- by Hamish Hastie
Exclusive
Australia votes
Major overhaul looms to keep big money out of politics
Transparency campaigners say an overhaul of campaign finance laws is overdue and would level the playing field before the next federal election, due to be held in or before 2025.
- by Paul Sakkal
Analysis
Government
Money far from silent in Premier’s blatant fundraising U-turn
Annastacia Palaszczuk told Queenslanders recent electoral reforms would stop them worrying about whether “money talks”. Years on, it’s sure doing something.
- by Matt Dennien
Exclusive
PwC
Big four consultancies win $1.4 billion a year in taxpayer-funded contracts
The Centre for Public Integrity claims consulting giants are wielding undue influence as a new study finds PwC is now the biggest political donor of the big four.
- by David Crowe and Matthew Knott
Exclusive
Planning and development
Residents angry as Labor donor gets green light to develop Glen Iris
Jandakot residents have learnt the developer they oppose paving over the former Glen Iris golf course was a member of a cash-for-access Labor Business Roundtable.
- by Hamish Hastie
Exclusive
Greens
Federal Greens will keep $76,501 in donations from fossil fuel investors
The Australian Greens won’t return the donations from the wealthy investors, despite the NSW Greens handing back a $7000 donation from the pair last week.
- by James Massola