November 2024
- Exclusive
- Political lobbying
Rex donated thousands of dollars in free flights to political parties
The regional airline, which is now under administration, flew party officials for no cost during the last two election campaigns, disclosures show.
- Ronald Mizen
July 2024
Labor warned against union-friendly donations laws
Amid intense scrutiny of the CFMEU, key crossbenchers have hit out at a possible stitch-up between the major parties on new political donation rules.
- Tom McIlroy
Political donations reform push faces tough opposition
Labor’s plans for speedy disclosure of political donations by big businesses and Rich Listers could be scuttled by the Greens and the Coalition.
- Tom McIlroy
April 2024
The corporate cost of the Yes campaign
In some circles, there is now a perception that corporate alignment with a cause can alienate more voters than it persuades.
- Samantha Hutchinson
Ramsay Foundation splashed $7m on failed Voice campaign
Rich Listers, major charitable foundations and big corporates spent millions on last year’s Indigenous referendum.
- Tom McIlroy
March 2024
- Exclusive
- Political lobbying
PM’s former chief adviser guides Woolies through political crisis
Woolworths has hired Anthony Albanese’s former chief of staff, while Coles has a specialist well-known in C-suites and Canberra’s corridors of power.
- Updated
- Ronald Mizen
February 2024
- Exclusive
- Gambling
Labor rakes in $5m of ‘hidden money’ from big companies
Payments from gambling giants like Sportsbet, Tabcorp and pokies outfit Endeavour accounted for a chunk of Labor’s pay-for-access packages sold to companies.
- Ronald Mizen
- Exclusive
- Voice to parliament
The 95-year-old Perth retiree behind the $1m No donation
Retired car dealer Brian Anderson waited until he was 95 to make his first political donation – a $1 million payment to conservative campaign group Advance Australia.
- Tom Rabe and Andrew Tillett
The heavy hitters behind Australia’s biggest conservative lobby group
Australia’s richest businesspeople have become major backers of Advance Australia, which helped lead the “no” campaign at the Indigenous Voice to parliament referendum.
- Updated
- Primrose Riordan and Andrew Tillett
Palmer retains donor crown as conservatives outpace Climate 200
New political fundraising data shows billionaires Clive Palmer and Anthony Pratt were among the most generous donors.
- Andrew Tillett and Tom Rabe
December 2023
Rest of the big four decline to join PwC on political donations ban
EY and Deloitte will continue to donate despite PwC stopping all contributions after its tax leaks scandal, while KPMG is reviewing its stance.
- Edmund Tadros
November 2023
Parliament needs more politicians, committee finds
A federal committee recommends capping campaign spending and cutting the threshold for reporting political donations, as well as more Senators for ACT and NT.
- Tom McIlroy
PwC Australia’s final political donation up 50pc to $370,000
The move by the firm to stop all political contributions put pressure on its big four rivals to follow suit.
- Edmund Tadros
- Exclusive
- Gambling
Access to Michelle Rowland for $1500 - or free with a subscription
The event is illustrative of the opaque world of “policy forums” used by political parties to sell corporate Australia privileged access to key politicians.
- Ronald Mizen
- Exclusive
- Gambling
Anthony Albanese wined and dined by betting giant Sportsbet
Sportsbet chief Barni Evans joined the prime minister at the National Press Club amid growing calls for political parties to clamp down on gambling ads.
- Ronald Mizen
- Exclusive
- Gambling
Michelle Rowland’s lavish Society lunch paid for by gambling lobby
The Melbourne lunch was not recorded on the Communication Minister’s parliamentary register of interests.
- Ronald Mizen
August 2023
Latham quits One Nation, accuses Hanson of rorting NSW
Mark Latham on Tuesday accused Pauline Hanson’s federal party of financial impropriety in an extraordinary session of parliament where he quit for the crossbench.
- Samantha Hutchinson
ALP conference draws big business firepower
CEOs have mostly skipped Labor’s 49th national conference in Brisbane, but a large business delegation is pressing the flesh with senior Albanese government figures.
- Tom McIlroy
July 2023
Big four edge out small firms in $190b race for government gold
Older, more politically connected consulting firms are winning a bigger slice of work from federal and state bureaucracies, according to e61 research.
- Tom McIlroy
PwC to ban political donations over tax leaks scandal
PwC Australia will cease most of its political donations as part of a plan to rehabilitate its public image amid the ongoing tax leaks scandal, depriving the major political parties of contributions worth an average of more than $200,000 a year.
- Edmund Tadros