Miners, billionaires and climate warriors top political donations list

New donor data released yesterday by the Australian Electoral Commission highlights several known facts about the country’s political financing system. Like billionaires, mining barons continue to wield great influence over politics. The teal movement is still largely funded by Climate 200’s multimillion-dollar financing machine. Unions also provide the necessary funding for Labour’s political movement.

However, a closer look at the data reveals some less discussed issues. Groups that run and influence third party campaigns on both the left and the right are major recipients of political donations.