Electoral donations NT: Stats show 85 per cent boost in donations to the CLP ahead of 2024 election

The Country Liberal Party has blown Territory Labor away in fundraising for the 2024 general election, with the CLP raking in 85 per cent more in donations than it did in 2020. See who has backed the parties.

Lia Finocchiaro is within striking distance of forming government at the 2024 Territory general election. Picture: Supplied.

The Country Liberal Party has been boosted in its bid to form government after eight years in the wilderness by a flood of donations, with newly published electoral returns revealing the party raked in $600,000 more than in the election prior.

According to the Northern Territory Electoral Commission’s 2024 Territory Election returns, released on Friday, the CLP received more than $1.33m worth of donations, up more than half a million dollars from the $724,422 it received for the 2020 election.

Significant donations to the CLP ahead of Saturday’s ballot include $140,000 from CLP Gifts and Legacies Pty Ltd, a registered, party-associated entity; $125,000 from tech entrepreneur John-Paul Thorbjornsen; and $199,000 from a company owned by All Cast NT founder Ray Bail (who was captured on video during the campaign tearing down Labor corflutes).

By contrast, in 2020, CLP Gifts and Legacies only donated $20,000 to the party, while All Cast NT contributed just $2000.

Darwin-based tech entrepreneur John-Paul Thorbjornsen, a former RAAF pilot, depicted at RAAF Base Darwin in 2013. Picture: File

Other sizeable donors ($50,000 or more) to the CLP this year include Diah (NT) Pty Ltd, accountant Allan C. Garraway, Randazzo Properties NT Pty Ltd, and Tamboran Services Pty Ltd.

CLP president Shane Stone was contacted for comment.

According to the NTEC disclosure logs, Territory Labor’s electoral donations have remained largely constant between the two most recent elections.

The party received $835,565 this year, about $16,000 less than it received in 2020 when Michael Gunner won his second election but a resurgent CLP under Lia Finocchiaro clawed back six seats.

Former Chief Minister Paul Henderson donated $10,000 to Territory Labor’s campaign. Picture: Glenn Campbell

This year’s largest donations to Labor were from the party’s national secretariat ($140,097.97), businessman David Walker ($35,000), the United Workers Union ($38,000), Tamboran Resources ($78,000), the Plumbing and Pipe Trades Employees Union ($20,000), and former Chief Minister Paul Henderson ($10,000).

Member for Daly Dheran Young is one of a number of serving parliamentarians who have donated their own money to their party’s campaign. Picture: Floss Adams.

Parliamentarians who stumped up some of their own cash to help fund their party’s campaign this year include Chief Minister Eva Lawler, her deputy Chansey Paech, Health Minister Selena Uibo, Daly MLA Dheran Young, and Namatjira MLA Bill Yan.

The NTEC disclosures also revealed that left-aligned political campaign group GetUp raised more than $70,000 to campaign for candidates, typically Greens or independents, who are standing for election.