The billionaires bankrolling rightwing astroturfer Advance Australia

Gina Rinehart, James Packer and a network of wealthy businessmen who are among the major financial backers of right-wing lobby group Advance Australia ahead of the 2025 election. Stephanie Tran reports.

Advance reported revenue of $13.5 million in fiscal year 2024-25. However, the sources of only 5.3 million dollars of the funds are disclosed, leaving 8.2 million dollars as “black money”.

Forward during selection spent $1.7 million was invested in social media ads promoting anti-immigration policies and was credited with “destroying” the Greens.

AEC Transparency data reveals his supporters range from billionaires to the simply wealthy, and lawyers including Zionist lobby scion Mark Leibler.

Rinehart’s flagship mining company, Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd, became Advance’s biggest donor in the 2024-25 financial year, contributing $895,000.

Members of the wealthy O’Neil family were also major donors, donating donations totaling $600,000 through multiple companies. Willimbury Pty Ltd donated $300,000 to Advance, Sixmilebridge Pty Ltd donated $200,000 and Nedigi Pty Ltd donated $100,000. Sixmilebridge also donated an additional $130,000 to the Liberal Party. O’Neil family a major donor Moving forward for several years.

SP Newcastle Pty Limited, linked to businessman Rob Milner, gave $250,000 but a matching donation has yet to be returned.

Investment manager Angus Aitken, chairman of Aitken Mount Capital Partners, donated $200,000.

Simon Fenwick, director of the Institute of Public Affairs and co-founder of International Value Advisers, donated $50,000 in his own name, in addition to $200,000 through Silver River Investment Holdings as trustee of the Fenwick Family Trust.

Billionaire heir James Packer’s Consolidated Press Holdings Pty Limited donated $150,000.

Other six-figure donors include storage billionaire Sam Kennard (via Siesta Holdings Australia Pty Ltd, $125,000), Perth car dealer Brian Anderson ($100,000 in addition to $150,000 given to the Liberal party), fund manager Peter Cooper (PCI Pty Ltd, $100,000), hotelier and lawyer Michael O’Hara (Paslibdan Pty Ltd, $100,000). dollars) and excavation company founder Quentin Birt ($100,000).

Mark Leibler

Some donations flowed through opaque private foundations. The Harbig Cunningham Trust donated $100,000. Harbig Nominees Pty Ltd is the nominee company that holds the assets on behalf of the trust.

Shareholders of Harbig Nominees include Mark Leibler (49 shares), Anne Neate (50 shares) and Richard Harbig (1 share). Richard Harbig is a Melbourne businessman and director of the Harbig Family Foundation.

Plymouth Brethren Christian Church

Accordingly SMH reportingSome major Advance donors have connections to charities affiliated with the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, a conservative religious denomination formerly known as the Special Brethren.

Rod Tunley donated $246,000 and David Steele donated $226,500. Both are listed as trustees of church-affiliated charities. Andrew Gillies donated $145,000, while Gavin Grace and Peter Grace donated $18,500.

2024-25 Preliminary donors

1. Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd: $895,000
2. Willimbury Pty Ltd: $300,000
3. SP Newcastle Pty Limited: $250,000
4. Rod Tunley: $246,000
5. David Steele: $226,500
6. Angus Aitken: $200,000
7. Silver River Investment Holding ATF Fenwick Family Foundation: $200,000
8. Sixmilebridge Pty Limited: $200,000
9. Consolidated Press Holdings Pty Limited: $150,000
10. Andrew Gillies: $145,000
11. Siesta Holdings Australia Pty Ltd: $125,000
12. Brian Anderson: $100,000
13. Harbig Cunningham Foundation: $100,000
14. John Hull: $100,000
15. Nedigi Pty Ltd: $100,000
16. Paslibdan Pty Ltd: $100,000
17. PCI Pty Ltd: $100,000
18. Quentin Birt: $100,000
19. Heather and John MacCulloch: $70,000
20. Tawjoy Pty Ltd: $65,000
21. Simon Maher: $60,000
22. Christopher Aylward: $51,000
23. Chilcotin Range Pty Ltd: $50,000
24. Coogee Chemicals Pty Ltd: $50,000
25. JMR Management Consulting Services Pty Ltd: $50,000
26. Michael Anthony Quinn: $50,000
27. Roger Gillespie: $50,000
28. Simon Fenwick: $50,000
29. Currabulla Pty Ltd: $40,000
30. Marcus Blackmore: $40,000
31. Trisco Link Pty Ltd: $34,000
32. Brazil Agriculture Pty Ltd: $30,000
33. Michael Heine: $30,000
34. Ron Lesh: $30,000
35. Warwick Morris: $30,000
36. Spencer Grammer: $27,000
37. Peter John Griffin: $25,000
38. Wythenshawe Pty Ltd: $24,000
39. Kenneth Warriner: $21,200
40. Robert Smith: $20,500
41. Christine Fry: $20,000
42. David Orford: $20,000
43. Peter Bottle: $20,000
44. Robert McGavin: $20,000
45. Strawcost Pty Ltd: $20,000
46. PG Foundation Trustees: $20,000
47. Gavin Grace: $18,500
48. Peter Grace: $18,500
49. Belinda Fisher: $17,500

Political donations. Money won’t buy you happiness!