The Herald's View: Having set the highest bar for herself, what now do we make of the revelation that not only did Zali Steggall accept, but failed to disclose a six-figure political donation from the family trust of a coal magnate?
, an Australian Electoral Commission compliance review into Warringah Independent Ltd’s 2018-19 disclosures uncovered that a $100,000 cheque from The Kinghorn Family Trust – headed by prominent businessman John Kinghorn – had been recorded as eight separate donations. The Commission held that this should have been recorded as a single donation and publicly disclosed.
The $100,000 pledge was the largest single donation of Ms Steggall’s $1.1 million campaign to oust former prime minister Tony Abbott from the blue-ribbon seat. Transparency advocates including GetUp, a strong supporter of Ms Steggall, have condemned the practice of donation splitting to conceal larger payments.
Independents often present themselves as a purer alternative to candidates from the major parties. The source of their donations, especially from the clutch of wealthy Australians who may be funding the “Voices Of” movement – must come under greater scrutiny if they are to maintain a collective halo.
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