CLP finances restored as money men return to beleaguered party, as NT Labor surges ahead with help from rich friends
The CLP’s finances and its hopes in tow have risen from the ashes, with the party raking in hundreds of thousands in donations in the past month to surge ahead of Territory Alliance.
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THE Country Liberal Party’s finances and its hopes in tow have risen from the ashes, with the party raking in hundreds of thousands in donations in the past month to surge ahead of Territory Alliance.
The CLP, once thought to have been deserted by the Territory’s money men and women, has amassed a total of $368,046 in donations from July 2019 to the end of last month.
About $240,000 of this, or 65 per cent of the party’s total, is newly declared cash amassed in July.
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The CLP’s single largest donor is Terry, Marco and Ross Finocchiaro’s company Gaymark Investments, upping an original $10,000 donation to the party to a total of $45,000.
Oil and gas company Empire Energy Group, which is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange, donated $25,000 to the CLP.
The Randazzo family has donated at least $45,000, collectively through its different businesses to the CLP.
Former chief minister Marshall Perron forked out $10,000 to help his party, as did Arnhem candidate Jerry Amato ($10,000).
NT Labor increased its total donation takings by 34 per cent in July, raking in $541,702 — more than the combined donations received by CLP and Territory Alliance.
Labor’s new takings include a $10,000 donation from Booloomani Corporation, owned by major Melbourne developer Jason Yeap.
Mr Yeap, through Booloomani, is a part owner of the Tipperary Group, the entity that operates Tipperary Station — a property covering more than 209,000ha south of Darwin.
Territory Alliance’s largest donor, multi-millionaire barrister Allan Myers QC, is also a part owner of Tipperary Group.
Joondanna Investments, owned by Peter La Pira and Natalie Wilson of Palmerston Shopping Centre and Karama Tavern, upped their gift to Labor by $15,000 for a total of $17,000.
NT Labor too has old friends in high places, with former chief minister Paul Henderson increasing his total donation to his party to $8000.
The Randazzos, again through their multiple companies, have donated at least $103,000 to NT Labor.
Meanwhile, Territory Alliance has struggled to earn much more, taking in just $24,000 extra since its last disclosure.
Donations to Territory Alliance now total just over $154,000. The financial disclosure laws have changed in the Northern Territory and will be in effect for the August 22 poll.
Changes include a $40,000 spending limit per individual candidate and the need for candidates and political parties to operate a “Territory campaign account using an authorised deposit-taking institution, used for NT election purposes”.
The database below has not been updated to reflect the latest donation disclosure:
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