Electoral Commission Queensland’s live donor register reveals flood of cash to parties

THE true scale of donations from the Gold Coast to political parties won’t be known for at least another week, but records leading up to polling have revealed the influence of Chinese companies, big business and unions on the election campaign.

THE true scale of donations from the Gold Coast to political parties won’t be known for at least another week, but records leading up to polling have revealed the influence of Chinese companies, big business and unions on the election campaign.

Some of the State’s biggest donations have originated on the Gold Coast or been gifted to Coast candidates, with individual donations of up to $50,000 logged in the city.

Last night the LNP had registered $1.54 million in donations, the ALP $748,166, Greens $119,174 and One Nation $16,265.

Village Roadshow CEO Clark Kirby, whose company donated $50,000 to both the Labor and LNP campaigns. Picture: Adam Head

Many more donations are set to pop up on the website next week with parties likely to take advantage of a seven-day lag in the system which means donations logged this week are not revealed until after the election.

In the electorate of Broadwater, the LNP logged a $40,000 windfall from Chinese company Australia Energy Windfarm, which is registered in Robina and whose directors have addresses in Sanctuary Cove and Calamvale.

LNP candidate for Broadwater David Crisafulli referred questions about donations to LNP headquarters, which did not respond. Photo: Richard Gosling

Director Liu Xiaodong reportedly dined with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in Brisbane four days after he made the donation. A mobile number listed for the company, whose website says they are “China’s responsible wind power supplier” went unanswered yesterday.

LNP candidate for Broadwater David Crisafulli referred questions about the donation to LNP headquarters, which did not respond.

The bulk of Labor’s donations have come from unions, including more than $100,000 from the CFMEU.

The LNP’s biggest donors were big businesses, with Cairns-based cattle producers Gulf Coast Agricultural Company donating $120,000 in two payments.

Listed theme park and cinema operator Village Roadshow had a $50,000 bet each way on Labor and the LNP.

Greens' political donor Duncan Turpie.

One of the biggest donations of the election campaign was made in Gaven, where mathematician and gambler Duncan Turpie, whose address is a PO Box in Nerang, dropped $50,000 on the Greens.

Southport candidate Rick Flori received a pre-campaign $50,000 from Optical Superstore boss Ian Melrose, who has previously donated to the Greens and to Senator Nick Xenophon.