[Greens-Media] Mining industry increase donations to Coalition by 60 per cent in election year.

[Jegatheeswaran, Brami (Jegan) (Sen L. Rhiannon)]

MEDIA COMMENT
3 February 2014

Mining industry increase donations to Coalition by 60 per cent in election year.

Greens democracy spokesperson Senator Lee Rhiannon said:

"The Australian Electoral Commission for 2012/2013 shows that donations from mining companies to the federal Coalition increased by 60 per cent in the lead up to the federal election.

"In 2012/2013 the total donations were approximately $311,600 while in 2011/2012 the donations were approximately $191,000.

"Gina Rinehart's two companies Hancock Coal and Hancock Prospecting in 2012/13 donated $163,130 to the Coalition and Labor which includes $99,880 to the Nationals.

"Hancock Coal and Hancock Prospecting is set to make massive profits from new coal terminals at Abbot Point in Queensland.

"GVK another company set to benefit from the Abbot Point coal project donated $55,000 to federal Labor in 2012/2013.

"The mining industry have benefited for over a decade from massive government subsidises now at $10 billion a year and they will pick up a further windfall if the price on carbon is removed.

"Mining companies funding political parties is bad for democracy and adds weight to the growing call for federal reform of electoral funding laws. A ban on donations from for profit organisations should be introduced.

http://democracy4sale.org/
Media contact: 0487 350 880



Brami Jegan
Media Adviser 0487 350 880
Office of Senator Lee Rhiannon | Australian Greens Senator for New South Wales

72 Campbell Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010
p: (02) 9211 9523 | f: (02) 9211 3312

http://lee-rhiannon.greensmps.org.au/

Our Sydney office is on the land of the Gadigal People of the Eora nation.