The property industry led the list of business sectors donating to both parties, giving $37.4 million to Labor and $53.1 million to the Coalition, but a new study concludes that too many other donations are being hidden.
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Five big donors increased their influence in federal politics last year by making 46 per cent of all donations in a period that saw a fall in overall funding to $18 million.
Mining magnate Clive Palmer led the list of big spenders with $5.9 million in donations to his United Australia Party in the year to June 30, adding to at least $83.5 million the previous year to fight the last election.
Clive Palmer led the list of big spenders with $5.9 million in donations to his United Australia Party in the year to June 30.
Credit:ninevms
He was followed by packaging billionaire Anthony Pratt, whose company gave $1.3 million to the Liberal Party and $250,000 to the Nationals, as well as $20,000 to Labor.
 Clive Palmer has given himself a whopping $5.9 million gift, as his political outfit matched the major parties in income, new documents have revealed. The Australian Electoral Commission on Monday morning released annual returns of political parties, showing the Australian Labor Party received $9.3 million in cash, its Queensland branch another $6.6 million, while the LNP racked in more than $10.3 million in 2019-20. The Federal Liberal Party also declared $13.15 million in receipts and the Nationals $1.76 million. Clive Palmer in Bundaberg. The largest single donation in the country in 2019-20 came from Mr Palmer s own company Mineralogy which gave $5.9 million. Pauline Hanson s One Nation declared $5.78 million in receipts, mostly from the Australian Electoral Commission and the party s state branches.