Researcher
Dr Norman Thompson
Summary
This paper examines Queensland Electoral Commission (QEC) data for donations from the alcohol and related industries to major Queensland political parties between July 2011 and June 2014.
The disclosure threshold for donations to the QEC was $1,000 from July 2011 to December 2013. This threshold was increased to $12,400 from January to June 2014.
Outcomes
Key findings of this report included that:
- The alcohol industry donated $408,648.08 to major Queensland political parties between July 2011 and June 2014.
- The Liberal National Party (LNP) received the most donations from the alcohol industry ($374,146.00), followed by the Queensland division of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) ($19,502.08) and the Katter Australian Party (KAP) ($15,000). The Queensland Greens and Palmer United Party (PUP) received no donations from the alcohol industry.
- The vast majority of alcohol industry donations (92%) went to the LNP, the party expected to win the 2015 State Election and the party that was ahead in the opinion polls throughout this period after its historic landslide win in 2012.
- More political donations were received in July to December 2013 ($133,887.00), followed by January to June 2013 ($131,977.18) and January to June 2012 ($77,621.00).
- The hotels sector donated the most to Queensland political parties ($156,826.58), followed by clubs ($72,658.00), casinos ($70,658.50), alcohol producers ($60,000) and alcohol outlets ($48,525.00).
