CLP swamps Labor in campaign fundraising blitz

A clear winner has emerged in the race to raise money for next month’s election - with some donors forking out staggering amounts to the major parties.

The Country Liberal Party has swamped Labor and The Greens in the race to raise cash for next month’s Territory election - with a single donor chipping in an eye-watering amount.

Since July 1, 2023 the CLP received $958,241 in donations from 233 individual donors, Labor collected $403,568 from 381 donors and the NT Greens collected $195,685 from 209 donations.

The latest Northern Territory Electorate Commission returns released Monday showed the Animal Justice Party and Federation Party Northern Territory received zero donations.

Beetaloo gas developer Tamboran Resources was Labor’s biggest quarterly donor with a $28,000 contribution and developer Randazzo Properties donated $27,500.

Voting in the Territory election is just over a month away. Picture: NTEC

Shopping centre owners Joondanna Investments chipped in $12,000, T&M Mousellis donated $10,000, party stalwart and campaigner Alf Leonardi donated $8802.99 and builders Sitzler $8000.

The CLP received three six-figure donations including $140,000 from its own CLP Gifts and Legacies arm, a $204,500 donation from Territory company Ray Bail Investments and Australian tech entrepreneur John-Paul Thorbjornsen gifted $125,000.

Former NT Property Council boss Allan Garraway made a $52,750 donation and car dealer Wayne Thomas chipped in $37,000.

With a number of smaller individual contributions between $1500 and $3600, the Australian Greens were by-far the group’s largest donor with a $130,225.28 contribution from party headquarters to the local chapter.

Independent candidates also got in for their chop with Johnston’s Justine Davis collecting $16,355 from 24 donations.

Karama’s Justine Glover took $13,565 from 14 donations and Goyder’s Belinda Kolstad was gifted $11,773 from 13 donations.

Blain independent and expelled former Labor MLA Mark Turner received $5923 from 23 individual donations.

Labor Party donor Alf Leonardi.

Among third-party campaigners, left-wing anti-development mob GETUP received $8909 from 221 donations.

CLP President Shane Stone said the ”numbers speak volumes”.

“It means we’re getting donations from people we’ve never heard from, with the single message that Labor’s got to go,” Mr Stone said.

“If you look at the names, there’s no big corporates, it’s people desperate to get rid of this government. The donations are from people despairing who want to see Labor out.

“The CLP is planning on winning the election to keep faith with all the people just saying to us ‘please get rid of this government. it is dreadful’.

Labor Party secretary Karlee Dalton said Labor was focused on supporting chief minister Eva Lawler to lower crime and create jobs.

“There’s no doubt this election will be close and every Territorian should think carefully about where they place their vote,” Ms Dalton said.

“The CLP need to explain what they will cut and sell and who they will sack to pay for their reckless policies like giving Coles and Woolies a tax cut while they drive up the cost of living.”

Originally published as CLP swamps Labor in campaign fundraising blitz