Tech mogul revealed as latest big teal donor will target Labor seats

A West Australian tech entrepreneur who donated $1.9m to teal and Greens campaigns has vowed to target Labor seats nationwide over the government's environmental record.

Gita Sonnenberg, with her partner, Norman Pater, who has donated almost $2 million to independent election campaigns this year.

A West Australian tech entrepreneur who pumped almost $2 million towards teal and Greens campaigns at the last election says he will help target Labor seats around the country in response to the Albanese Government’s handling of environmental issues.

Norman Pater, who made a fortune developing software applications for the resources sector, will on Monday be revealed as one of the biggest individual political donors in the country when the Australian Electoral Commission releases data on donations made during the last Federal election.

Ahead of the official disclosures, Mr Pater revealed to The Australian that he had donated around $1.9 million to various campaigns during this year’s federal and state elections.

WA tech entrepreneur Norman Pater, who has donated almost $2 million to independent election campaigns this year.

Among his biggest donations were contributions to the independent campaigns of Kate Hulett in both the state and federal seats of Fremantle, and Peter George in Franklin. Ms Hulett only narrowly lost both races in what were previously very safe Labor seats, while Mr George finished second in Franklin and was subsequently elected to the Tasmanian parliament following the state’s most recent election.

In a statement, he said he was motivated to challenge “the lack of ambition” from Labor on climate issues at both a West Australian and national level.

“The Albanese government has doubled down on the disastrous climate policies of WA Labor. I believe history will judge the culpable politicians badly. They have all but ensured they will face even more opposition at the next election,” he said.

“The governments, both in Western Australia and in Canberra, are colluding with the big end of town – especially with fossil fuel producers and gambling operators – at the expense of the environment and citizens alike. I support any candidate who will help end that collusion.”

Pater said he was motivated to challenge ‘the lack of ambition’ from Labor.

Mr Pater’s commentary and financial firepower reinforces the growing challenge facing Labor, as it attempts to support new projects while appeasing factions and supporters who want to see it do more on climate.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese replaced environment minister Tanya Plibersek with Senator Murray Watt after the last election, with Mr Watt swiftly moving to approve Woodside Energy’s controversial North West Shelf extension.

Mr Pater said he was “deeply ashamed” that the WA Labor government had supported projects such as the North West Shelf and Alcoa’s contentious bauxite mining in WA’s jarrah forests.

“The results in Fremantle at the last election should have put the major parties on notice,” he said.

“Given the scale of community frustration with our government and the major party system, the potential for significant political change is only growing.”

Mr Pater’s contributions included $1 million to Simon Holmes a Court’s Climate 200 and $400,000 to Greens campaigns in WA and Queensland. He also supported Sue Chapman’s unsuccessful teal campaign against Liberal Ben Small in the WA federal seat of Forrest.

The South Africa-born Mr Pater founded the IT company now known as Scope Systems, and now lives in the South West of WA. He owns four farms – three north of Perth and one to the south – where he is involved in revegetation programs selling carbon credits.

He has previously said he became more involved in environmental campaigning after meeting with former US vice president Al Gore in 2011.