Where Labor and LNP cash is coming from ahead of Federal election

New figures reveal the big donations pouring into party coffers in Queensland in the months before the federal election.

A billionaire businessman, lobbyists, investment firms and unions are among those making big political donations in Queensland ahead of the looming federal election.

There have been $347,000 in donations made to Queensland Labor and $264,000 to the LNP since the state’s borders reopened in December, ECQ real-time disclosure logs reveal.

The donation scramble comes ahead of May’s election, with the battleground state playing a key role. Scott Morrison and the Coalition need to hold on to their 23 Queensland seats while Anthony Albanese and Labor are aiming to secure at least two.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison

The LNP increasingly confident in Flynn, but Longman a concern for the government. There is also speculation from Labor that they could do well in Brisbane, but it has yet to be reflected in resources the Opposition is putting into the seat.

While unions gave a combined $46,905, former ALP state secretary Evan Moorhead‘s lobbyist firm Anacta Strategies alone forked out $40,000 for Labor on February 15.

Visy Industries founder Anthony Pratt‘s Pratt Holdings gave generously to both sides, with $10,000 going to Labor and $20,000 to the LNP.

Brisbane-based small arms and ammunition supplier Nioa gave four separate times to the LNP totalling $30,000.

The CFMEU had not made donations to the Labor Party during that period of time.

The dominant left-faction United Workers Union has given the most to Queensland Labor in the past two months, handing over $29,000, while the CPSU donated almost $12,000, the Services Union gave $2738, Australian Workers Union $1350 and CEPU $1601.

Venture capital and investment groups have donated generously to the LNP with Australian Secure Capital Fund contributing $27,500 and Initiative Capital $18,250.

Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese

There have been $137,553 donations declared for the Greens in Queensland, including $34,000 from mathematician and high-end gambler Duncan Turpie.

Katter’s Australian Party has received $16,667, while United Australia Party and Pauline Hanson’s One Nation Queensland division have not had any donations declared.

The Commonwealth Electoral Act does allow for donations made specifically for a federal campaign only have to be declared to the Australian Electoral Commission.

It also means the donations will only have to be declared at the higher threshold of $14,500, compared to the ECQ’s $1000 threshold.