Marcus Catsaras and Robert Keldoulis have ranked in the top 10 of the biggest federal political donors for the 2022-2023 period.
Catsaras came in 4th place, donating a total of $1 million dollars, with Keldoulis coming in 6th, donating $702,113 dollars. Keldoulis Investments Pty Ltd also made 12th position on the list, with a donation of $365,430 dollars.
Australia’s two major political parties – Australian Labor Party and the Liberal/National Coalition – raked in more than $196 million in the year after the federal election, largely thanks to wealthy individuals, unions, and mining, gambling and consultancy firms.
According to The Daily Telegraph, billionaire Clive Palmer was Australia’s biggest single political donor through his mining company, Mineralogy, donating $7,088,867.
Australia Institute democracy and accountability program director, Bill Browne said the “mass release” of 2022-23 data highlighted the “lack of transparency and integrity in Australian politics.”
“We are learning today whether businesses made political donations 18 months ago,” Browne said.
“These lags and loopholes make it difficult to see how politicians and political parties are being funded – and by whom.”
Source: The Daily Telegraph
