Thread by @larissawaters

The AEC has published political donations data for the 2020-21 fin yr today (better late than never, but it should be in real time!). Let’s see which dodgy corporations have been lining whose pockets, shall we? (thread) #auspol

The biggest donor of the year goes to billionaire Anthony Pratt of the Visy recycling empire for giving the Libs $1.26 Million. Pratt is mates with Trump & Morrison.

Empire Energy, who got $21 million in public money to frack the NT’s Beetaloo Basin for dirty gas, gave $40k to Libs & $25k to NT Labor. Empire’s Chair has personally previously donated over $200K to the LNP. Pretty good return on investment 🙄 #auspol

Santos, who also want public handouts to frack the Beetaloo, gave $22k to the Nats and $44k to Labor. (Coincidental reminder: Labor and Coalition both voted to keep pouring public money into fracking the Beetaloo, in a climate crisis, against First Nations’ wishes) #auspol

The Minerals Council, famed for toppling a PM over a proposed super-profits tax, gave $101k to Libs, $65k to ALP & $28k to Nats. No wonder we have shitty climate policy! They earned $20 MILLION more from their big mining members, so expect more glossy election ads 🤮 #auspol

BTW, if you missed my interview this morning with @RNBreakfast about the Greens’ plan to kick coal and gas companies out of Canberra, here you go!
abc.net.au/radionational/…

Over $1m to Lib, Lab & Nat from fossil fuel polluters again - even in a non-election year. In return, they get billions in handouts & policies that maximise their profits. It’s #democracyforsale. Exactly why the Greens want to stop coal, oil & gas from donating entirely! #auspol

Big Money runs politics. Here’s the total donations received by political parties last fin year - and that doesn’t include the millions in undisclosed dark money our weak donations laws don’t capture! #auspol #democracyforsale

During the pandemic billionaire Kerry Stokes’ company SevenWest Media pocketed JobKeeper and slashed staff wages - and he also bought a private jet. SevenWest donated to both Liberal and Labor parties ($22,950). #auspol

Much of those millions that fund the election campaigns of the big political parties are from big corporations. Mining, banks, pokies, alcohol, private health sectors all feature heavily. Any wonder those sectors are poorly regulated and get tonnes of taxpayer handouts!

Consultants continue to get a good return on investment. PwC donated $246K and, last year alone, received more than $17M in govt contracts. EY donated $60K and got paid $832K for consulting to govt. Meanwhile the public sector gets gutted. #auspol