Liberal & Labor’s Shameless Donations Secrecy

Today’s Australian Electoral Commission returns for the 2023-24 year – an election year no less – show the Tasmanian Liberals raked in almost $3.4 million and disclosed less than 4% of this figure, or donations totalling about $110 000.

Meanwhile, State Labor more than doubled the amount of donations they received from the previous year.  Almost $2.2million in donations went into their coffers, but they disclosed the sources of just $172 478 – less than 8%.
​​​​​​​
These two old corporatist parties really are just giving the middle finger to democracy and transparency.

These are appalling, disturbing figures that show the utter disdain the Liberals and Labor have for the public’s right to know.

The AEC returns also again beg the question – why the secrecy?  What are the Liberals and Labor so keen to hide about their relationships with corporate donors?  Have big gambling, salmon and mining corporations been funnelling money into these parties, in the full knowledge there’ll be a quid pro quo?

Such secrecy from the major parties shows again why the Greens’ donations disclosure bill is so sorely needed, and is why we’ll be looking to progress it through the Legislative Council as a priority when Parliament returns. Our bill will lower the disclosure threshold to $1000, ensuring the establishment parties can’t keep hiding sizeable donations from voters.

In the meantime, the Liberal and Labor parties should do the right thing and voluntarily come clean on donations, just like the Greens have always done.  All donations over $1000 are disclosed on our website.