AEC data reveals Qld’s biggest political donors

The Queensland Greens spent a record $2.79 million on their impressive federal election haul of seats, but the figure pales by comparison to the incredible sum splashed out by Clive Palmer’s company for a return of zero.

The Queensland Greens’ biggest ever election cash splash of $2.79 million helped them achieve a record election result of three MPs and a Senator elected, new donation details reveal.

Businessman Clive Palmer. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

Donations data also show Clive Palmer broke new records, with his company Mineralogy donating $116 million to his political outfit United Australia Party, which in turn spent $123 million in the lead up to last year’s federal election – and it still owed Google $9.3 million as at June 30.

The Australian Electoral Commission released the annual returns for 2021-22 of political parties and third parties on Wednesday.

Climate 200's Simon Holmes a Court. Picture: Josie Hayden

Nationally, Simon Holmes à Court’s Climate200, which funded the Teals’ campaigns, spent the most of any third parties with electoral expenditure of $12.9 million.

But the CFMEU was the next biggest spender on electoral activity, splashing out $4.19 million.

Left-wing political outfit GetUp! spent $4 million on the election, while conservative advocacy group Advance Australia was not far behind at $3.7 million.

Former Prime Minister and Australia’s next ambassador to the US Kevin Rudd also gave generously. Picture: Eric Lee/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Former Prime Minister, and recently appointed ambassador to the US, Kevin Rudd gave more than $12,000 to Queensland Labor.

One Nation’s biggest fundraising came via a Sunshine Coast distillery Cavu, which does Sunshine and Sons gin and Nil Desperandum Rum.

The company was behind the “Please Explain pineapple parfait gin” that Pauline Hanson’s One Nation has been selling online to raise money, via a fundraising service that Cavu offers through the online sale of specifically-branded spirits with a portion of proceeds paid to the third party.

Pauline Hanson's Please Explain gin. Picture: Supplied

Gambler and mathematician Duncan Turpie contributed $200,000 to the Queensland Greens’ $1.78 million in donations, while Brisbane councillor Jonathan Sriranganathan gave $20,000.

The Queensland Greens spent $2.79 million in 2021-22, their highest cash splash ever, helping them get the record haul of politicians over the line – one senator and three MPs.

Their spending started early with a $2.75 million spent the previous financial year, while their previous record on spending was $1.9 million in the financial year of the 2019 election.

Max Chandler-Mather, Elizabeth Watson-Brown, Stephen Bates, Penny Allman-Payne and Larissa Waters celebrate at the Greens party after the federal election in 2022. Picture: Richard Walker

Queensland Labor raised about $10 million in donations, including $131,730 from lobbyist Anacta Strategies.

Unions were state Labor’s biggest donors, handing over a combined $2.88 million.

United Workers Union were the most generous with donations totalling $551,162, then the CEPU with $452,924, while the CFMEU gave generously as well at $228,009 and the right faction SDA at $326,496.

The LNP also raised about $10 million, including billionaire Anthony Pratt giving $35,000, Adani which gave $100,000, while Oxenford-based JGI Quarry gave $100,000.

Its most generous donor was Liral Investments, linked to Cairns property Tycoon Alex Sekler, which donated $304,000.