AEC releases 2024–25 donation figures showing Hancock, Palmer and Climate 200 donations

The Australian Electoral Commission on Monday released its 2024–25 annual financial disclosure returns, revealing major political donations in the lead-up to the 2025 election, including nearly $900,000 from Gina Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting to the rightwing campaign group Advance.

The returns show Clive Palmer’s Mineralogy was again the biggest donor, giving more than $53m to political ventures backed by the mining magnate — listed as $302,9012 to his United Australia party and $52.9m to the Trumpet of Patriots. The Guardian notes neither party had any members elected at the May 2025 election.

Advance declared it received $13.5m and spent $12.4m in 2024–25. The organisation, described in the reporting as a rightwing campaign group that has lobbied Coalition MPs to dump net zero and run campaigns to “stop mass immigration”, received two Hancock Prospecting donations of $500,000 and $395,000 in October 2024 and February 2025 respectively.

Pro‑climate funding vehicle Climate 200 declared receiving $9.5m in donations and distributing $10.9m to candidates it supported, naming federal politicians Sophie Scamps, Allegra Spender, Monique Ryan and Kate Chaney. Some of its larger donations were recorded from Atlassian founders Scott Farquhar ($500,000) and Mike Cannon‑Brookes ($300,000).

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