The Essential Report Archive Read the latest report

Political donations

13 Sep 2016

Q. Should political parties be allowed to receive donations from each of the following?

  Should be allowed Should not be allowed Don’t know   Vote Labor Vote Lib/Nat Vote Greens Vote other
Property developers 16% 69% 15%   12% 25% 13% 13%
Foreign companies 12% 74% 13%   9% 17% 10% 13%
Australian companies 32% 51% 17%   29% 41% 23% 36%
Mining companies 19% 68% 14%   15% 28% 12% 18%
Energy companies 18% 67% 15%   13% 28% 14% 16%
Casinos 14% 71% 15%   10% 21% 11% 16%
Unions 20% 64% 15%   25% 18% 19% 22%
Professional associations 29% 52% 18%   28% 38% 23% 31%
Individual Australian voters 50% 35% 15%   48% 57% 50% 54%

A majority of respondents were opposed to all forms of donations to political parties except for donations from individual Australian voters (50% should be allowed).

They were most strongly opposed to donations from foreign companies (74%), casinos (71%), property developers (69%), mining companies (68%) and energy companies (67%).

Liberal/National voters were more likely than Labor voters to think donations from different groups should be allowed (with the exception of unions).

Error: