Major Parties Spend Big But Clive Palmer Goes Larger

Clive Palmer invested more on political campaigning in the last fiscal year than the 2 significant celebrations integrated, contribution records reveal.


Mr Palmer's Mineralogy pumped almost $53 million into last May's federal election, according to Australian Electoral Commission information on Monday.


The mining clothing spent almost $200 million on all its political marketing in the 2024/25 fiscal year, however the billionaire failed to get any candidates from his Trumpet of Patriots party chosen.


The Labor Party and all its state and area branches got more than $150 million in the fiscal year and invested practically $160 million.


The then-coalition, which consisted of Liberal and National state branches in addition to a joint branch in Queensland and the Country Liberal Party in the Northern Territory, got more than $220 million and spent practically $215 million.


The Greens got nearly $36 million and spent more than $40 million while One Nation got and spent simply over $3.3 million.


The AEC information doesn't separate major-party costs for the year and the election as it does for third celebrations.


Conservative advocacy clothing Advance Australia spent more than $10 million on the election and made $13.5 million in political payments.


Gina Rinehart's Hancock Prospecting pumped practically $900,000 into Advance in a year.


Progressive advocacy group GetUp raised concerns about rich donors propping up conservative project outfits like Advance, which claimed to be a grassroots motion.


The Australian Education Union spent $5.5 million on the election, the Australian Council of Trade Unions almost $5.5 million, the mining and energy union $3.8 million and the United Workers Union $1.5 million.


Progressive financing vehicle Climate 200, which backs independent candidates, invested $5 million in the federal election while Better Australia, set up to project against the teal independents, spent more than $1.2 million.


Labor protected a massive majority with 94 lower home seats, while the coalition slipped to 43.


2024-25 financial disclosure returns are now survive on the Transparency Registerhttps:// t.co/ A6LbFXu2WH https://t.co/rqe1khhIVk


- AEC (@AusElectoralCom) February 1, 2026


The federal election was the last to feature uncapped costs and contributions before reforms, consisting of spending caps, entered into result in mid-2026.


Major celebrations will just be able to invest $90 million on elections across the country while third-party groups will be restricted to $11 million.


The Australia Institute criticised the ramped-up cash splashes and while director Bill Browne invited election reforms, he stated they didn't go far enough as there were loopholes that meant cash payments to major parties could go undiscovered.


This indicated Australians would be left in the dark about who was buying access to politicians, he stated.


"Even with enhanced contribution disclosure guidelines, there will be cash-for-access payments that Australians never ever learn about," he stated.


Greens democracy spokesperson Steph Hodgins-May criticised Labor and the Liberals for taking money from nonrenewable fuel source, betting and pharmaceutical companies in addition to the significant banks, linking an absence of policy action to the companies' impact over the federal government.


SportsBet, Tabcorp and gambling lobby Responsible Wagering Australia provided a combined $166,500 to Labor and $92,500 to the Liberals.


Major donors mostly hedged their bets between Labor and the union.


Pratt Holdings, led by billionaire businessman Anthony Pratt, offered Labor $2 million and the Liberal Party $1 million.


Meriton gave Labor $100,000 and the Liberals $500,000 while the Pharmacy Guild offered Labor $245,000 and the union $73,000.


Oryxium, an investment firm connected to business person Frank Lowy, donated $1.8 million to the Liberals, while DoorDash offered the party $780,000.


The food delivery company also gave $124,000 to Labor.


Fox Group, headed by trucking giant and billionaire Lindsay Fox, provided the Liberals $500,000 and the Labor Party nearly $540,000.


Mining company Adani offered $640,000 to the Liberals, while Hancock Prospecting gave the Liberals' Victorian branch $105,000.