Major Parties Spend Big However Clive Palmer Goes Larger

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


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


The mining clothing spent practically $200 million on all its political marketing in the 2024/25 fiscal year, but the billionaire failed to get any prospects from his Trumpet of Patriots celebration elected.


The Labor Party and all its state and territory branches received more than $150 million in the fiscal year and invested nearly $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 invested almost $215 million.


The Greens got practically $36 million and spent more than $40 million while One Nation received and spent just over $3.3 million.


The AEC data doesn't different major-party spending for the year and the election as it provides for third celebrations.


Conservative advocacy outfit Advance Australia invested 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 wealthy donors propping up conservative project attire like Advance, which claimed to be a grassroots movement.


The Australian Education Union invested $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 funding vehicle Climate 200, which backs independent candidates, spent $5 million in the federal election while Better Australia, established to campaign versus the teal independents, invested more than $1.2 million.


Labor secured an enormous majority with 94 lower house seats, while the coalition slipped to 43.


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


- AEC (@AusElectoralCom) February 1, 2026


The federal election was the last to include uncapped costs and contributions before reforms, including costs caps, entered effect in mid-2026.


Major celebrations will only be able to invest $90 million on elections nationwide while third-party groups will be limited to $11 million.


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


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


"Even with enhanced donation disclosure rules, there will be cash-for-access payments that Australians never discover," he stated.


Greens democracy spokesperson Steph Hodgins-May criticised Labor and the Liberals for taking money from nonrenewable fuel source, gaming and pharmaceutical business in addition to the significant banks, linking a lack of policy action to the business' impact over the government.


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


Major donors largely hedged their bets in between Labor and the union.


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


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


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


The food shipment company also provided $124,000 to Labor.


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


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