Climate 200 tops poll donors as funding list revealed
It is said that money cannot buy you happiness and it may not buy you a seat in parliament either.
The two biggest fundraisers in the last election both failed to win seats in parliament, according to data from the Australian Electoral Commission.
Victorian Independent Alex Dyson and New South Wales independent Carolyn “Jazz” Heise became the first federal candidates to raise more than $2 million on AEC records.
Mr Dyson failed to win the seat of Wannon, held by Liberal Party frontrunner Dan Tehan; Ms Heise, meanwhile, challenged Nationals MP Pat Conaghan for the Cowper seat.
Climate 200, the fundraising vehicle backed by businessman Simon Holmes a Court, has become the biggest donor of the 2025 elections, making 483 payments to 34 independent candidates.
In total, the organization spent about $11 million leading up to the survey in May.
The election commission requires candidates to disclose donations over $16,900, along with campaign expenses.
The data is released after every election to give Australians a better idea of who is funding politicians and how much they spend.
Kooyong independent MP Monique Ryan received the most donations of any sitting politician, raising $1,905,102 from more than 3,000 donors.
45 of the 50 highest-spending candidates were independent candidates.
These included Ms Ryan, as well as other teal MPs including Zoe Daniel, Allegra Spend, Sophie Scamps, Kate Chaney and Zali Steggall.
Other independents such as Western Sydney MP Dai Le and regional NSW representative Andrew Gee were also high on the list.
The other five places in the top 50 went to finance minister and ACT Senator Katy Gallgher, One Nation candidates Warwick Stacey, Tyron Whitten and Richard Graham and Center Alliance MP Rebekah Sharkie.
