MEDIA RELEASE: Wednesday 5 February 2025
In 2023-24, big political parties got almost $70 million from mystery donors—money from people or companies they won’t name. This was revealed by the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC), and it shows how much hidden money is influencing politics. Over the last 25 years, research from The Centre for Public Integrity found that huge corporate donations have taken over party funding, making people wonder if politicians are really working for us—or for the big businesses that fund them.
Independent candidate for Calare, Kate Hook, says Australians are right to be concerned: “How can politicians claim to act in the public’s best interest when their campaigns are funded by mystery corporations and industry lobbyists? These donations don’t just appear out of thin air—they come with expectations. It’s hard for everyday Australians to feel heard when big money has the loudest voice in the room.”
Kate is calling for urgent reforms to clean up the system: “The major parties have created a system where money talks, and everyday Australians are left on the sidelines. Whether it’s fossil fuel giants delaying climate action, property developers influencing housing policies, supermarket chains maintaining their dominance and influencing the cost of living, or gambling companies blocking reforms, the public loses when big money controls the agenda.”
To fix this broken system, Kate is pushing for transparency with real-time reporting of all political donations above $1,000.
“If you want to know who is donating to my campaign, it’s all there on my website for you to read. If I can manage it, why can’t the parties?”
She also highlighted the contrast between her campaign and those of the major parties: “Unlike the big players, I’m not beholden to corporate donors or party bosses. My campaign is funded by individuals in our community and values-aligned crowdfunding platforms that enable people across Australia to support a fairer, more transparent democracy. This is about making decisions that benefit Australians—not corporations or industry lobbyists.”
Kate Hook is urging Australians to demand better: “The current system isn’t just broken—it’s rigged. We’ve seen this in the proposed Electoral Reform Bill which is designed to reduce competition and embed the major parties. It’s time to rebuild trust by prioritising transparency, accountability, and integrity. Let’s make politics work for the people again.”