The Australian Electoral Commission has disclosed political donations for the 2020-2021 financial year showing that $959,155 was donated to the three major parties from fossil fuel companies, $80,000 more than was donated the previous year.
This saw the Liberal Party receive the majority of the donations, totalling $506,810 with the Labor party receiving $392,354. Woodside was the largest fossil fuel donor, giving $232,350 to the Liberal and Labor parties.
End political donations
Following these revelations the climate action group 350.org Australia has called for an end to political donations from fossil fuel companies.
‘Gas companies are some of Australia’s biggest political donors and are the recipients of massive public subsidies from the Government. It’s clear that money is talking,’ said 350 Senior Campaigner Shani Tager.
‘There should be no room for fossil fuel companies in our politics but instead they’re bankrolling the major parties to try and shore up their future.
‘Companies like Woodside Energy are trying to buy support for their controversial gas projects like the disastrous Scarborough project in WA.
‘It’s time for all parties to rule out donations from fossil fuel companies so that community voices can be heard, and we can get on with addressing the climate crisis.
‘Communities across the country want our government to be taking action on climate change, but instead they’ve been rolling out the red carpet for their gas industry donors, who are holding back meaningful action at every turn.’
In the 2020-21 financial year, fossil fuel donations included:
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