Clive Palmer donated more than $80 million to own party

Mining magnate Clive Palmer's company donated more than $80 million to the billionaire's United Australia Party in his failed bid for Federal Parliament.

Despite the biggest ever spending splurge in Australian political history, Mr Palmer failed to get a single candidate elected at last year's federal election.

Clive Palmer's company donated more than $80 million to the United Australia Party.Credit: AAP

Disclosures to the Australian Electoral Commission annual returns, published on Monday, also show Victorian MP Gladys Liu donated $90,000 to her own campaign weeks before the May 18 poll.

Mr Palmer has claimed credit for Prime Minister Scott Morrison's election win, saying the scare campaign by his United Australia Party - which included a significant advertising blitz - was responsible for the swing against Labor.

The businessman's company Mineralogy donated $83.6 million to the United Australia Party in 2018-19.

Mr Palmer's wife, Anna, also donated $330,000, according to the annual AEC disclosures.

His other company - Palmer Coolum Resort - contributed $103,499 to the party.

Meanwhile, the Liberal Party's Victorian branch has declared a $90,000 donation from Ms Liu, which the Hong-Kong born MP tried to claim late last year was a loan.

The member for Chisholm contributed the money to her own election campaign in the lead-up to the May 18 poll after she was told by the party more money was needed to retain the seat.

Several sources within the party's Victorian branch have confirmed Ms Liu asked for the money to be paid back, claiming the payment was a loan.

Billionaire Anthony Pratt's company Pratt Holdings donated more than $3 million to both the Liberal and Labor parties last financial year.

Gas giant Woodside donated $135,400 to Labor, $136,750 to the Liberal Party and $11,190 to the National Party.

The disclosures show the Labor Party is still heavily reliant on the union movement for donations.

The Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union's national branch donated more than $1 million to the Labor Party and $2 million to the Australian Council of Trade Unions.

Indian company Adani, through the Adani Mining and the Carmichael Rail Network Trust, donated $121,800 to the Nationals.

Former Victorian Liberal Party president Michael Kroger donated $116,357 to his own state branch leading up to the Victorian election in November, 2018, and last year's federal poll. He also donated $250 to the party's NSW division.

Indian company Adani, through the Adani Mining and the Carmichael Rail Network Trust, donated $121,800 to the Nationals and $50,000 to the federal Liberal party.

Adani's proposed Carmichael coal mine became a major issue in key Queensland marginal seats during the campaign, with Labor's stance on the project widely credited with delivering votes to the Coalition.

Labor disclosed a total of $49.9 million in receipts, the Liberals disclosed a total of $48.1 million, while the Nationals disclosed just over $3 million.

Nine Entertainment, owner of this masthead, disclosed $60,800 in donations to both major parties. This did not include the controversial decision to allow the use of its Sydney studio for a $10,000-a-head corporate fundraiser for the Liberal Party in September last year.

Major party spending is at its highest since the 2007 election, while third party spending has dropped significantly and is at its lowest recorded.