The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) has released its 2024–25 annual financial disclosure returns, detailing the largest political donations and campaign spending in federal politics in the lead-up to the May 2025 election.
The disclosures, released on Monday, show mining magnate Gina Rinehart’s company Hancock Prospecting donated nearly $900,000 to the rightwing campaign group Advance during the last financial year.
According to the returns, Hancock Prospecting made two donations to Advance: $500,000 in October 2024 and $395,000 in February 2025. Rinehart, Australia’s richest person, is executive chair of Hancock Prospecting.
Advance declared receiving $13.5m in donations during 2024–25 and spending $12.4m over the same period. The organisation has previously lobbied Coalition MPs to abandon net zero climate targets and has run campaigns opposing what it describes as “mass immigration”, as stated in its disclosures.
The AEC data also shows Clive Palmer’s company Mineralogy was again the largest political donor. Mineralogy contributed more than $53m to political ventures backed by Palmer, including $302,901 to the United Australia partyand $52.9m to the Trumpet of Patriots, which Palmer financed. Neither party secured any seats at the May 2025 federal election.
Pro-climate funding group Climate 200 reported receiving $9.5m in donations and distributing $10.9m to candidates it supported. Those candidates included federal politicians Sophie Scamps, Allegra Spender, Monique Ryan, and Kate Chaney.
Among Climate 200’s larger donors were Scott Farquhar, who donated $500,000, and Mike Cannon-Brookes, who contributed $300,000. Both are founders of Atlassian.
The AEC requires political parties, associated entities, donors and third-party campaigners to disclose annual financial activity, including donations received and expenditure incurred, under Australia’s federal electoral laws.
