Soviet-born tycoon was biggest donor to Queensland’s LNP in federal election

A Soviet-born businessman with companies in the tax haven of ­Cyprus has emerged as the biggest donor to Queensland’s Liberal National Party ahead of last year’s federal election.

Violetta and Alex Sekler with Dr Ken Chapman (centre) after one of their generous donations.

A Soviet-born businessman with companies in the tax haven of ­Cyprus has emerged as the biggest donor to Queensland’s Liberal National Party ahead of last year’s federal election.

Alex Sekler, 65, who moved to Cairns with his wife Violetta just over a decade ago, became the LNP’s biggest individual backer since the days of Clive Palmer when he handed over $304,000 through one of his companies for the party’s campaign last April.

Mr Sekler is understood to have made his fortune through property and manufacturing companies in Russia and Israel in the 1990s and 2000s.

LNP sources said Mr Sekler, who could not reached for comment, had made the donation to help federal Liberal MP Warren Entsch hold his Cairns-based marginal seat against a well-resourced Labor challenger.

Mr Entsch, who held his seat, told The Weekend Australian he was aware of the donation and his campaign would have been only one of the beneficiaries of the funds. The veteran MP said he had personally advocated, including in writing, for Mr Sekler to be granted citizenship.

Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch. Picture: Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images

“His family were going to get citizenship but because he was travelling overseas so much, and you have to be in Australia for a certain period of time, it was a problem,’’ he said. Mr Entsch said he wrote a letter on Mr Sekler’s behalf, arguing that because he was a “high wealth individual” who could invest in the economy, he should get citizenship.

“As it turned out, Covid fixed the problem because he was restricted in his travel and able to comply,’’ Mr Entsch said.

Mr Entsch said Mr Sekler was awarded citizenship on Australia Day. The donation, which was ­detailed in the public release this week by the Australian Electoral Commission of annual returns by political parties and donations, was made through a company wholly owned by Mr Sekler, Liral Investments No 4 Pty Ltd.

It is one of number of his companies involved in property development in Australia. One of Mr Sekler’s companies is Liral International Limited, which is registered in Cyprus, a favoured tax haven of Russian elites.

ASIC and Republic of Cyprus corporate records show the company was registered in Cyprus in 2004, and Mr Sekler is one of three directors.

An officeholder in his Australian businesses on Friday declined to comment. “The legal team’s ­direction is no comment,’’ she said. “What we can confirm is that Alex is indeed an Australian citizen and has never actually been a Russian citizen.”

Business records show Mr ­Sekler was born in Moldova in 1957, when it was then part of the Soviet Union. Mr Entsch said he understood that Mr Sekler spent some of his childhood in Israel.

Mr Sekler’s wife, Violetta, is a life coach, whose website lists her expertise as a motivational ­speaker, relationship and break-up expert, and happiness and ­empowerment coach.

Ms Sekler said she was born in Russia, lived in the United States, Germany, Switzerland and Israel, before settling in Cairns as a “happy wife, fulfilled mother, loving daughter and caring friend”.

When contacted on Friday, Mrs Sekler said she would not comment. In March 2020, Mr Entsch posted on Facebook, describing Mr and Mrs Sekler as “my good friends” and praising them for a $650,000 donation to the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation. “I think it’s important for people to realise and acknowledge the calibre of citizens, such as Alex and Violetta, that we have in our community,” he said.

Mr Sekler has an extensive property portfolio in Queensland, including Brisbane’s tallest penthouse on Margaret Street in the CBD that he bought for $10.26m in 2020.

He also owns parcels of land with development opportunities on the Sunshine Coast and in Cairns’ northern beaches.