"Jewish donors were among
the biggest corporate and individual contributors to
party political funds in 2001 and 2002"
- Australian Electoral Commission
|
Melbourne, February 20, 2003
Jewish donors back main
political parties
By Bernard Freedman
JEWISH donors were among the biggest corporate and
individual contributors to party political funds in 2001 and 2002,
the Australian Electoral Commission revealed in its political
donations return released last week.
Westfield shopping mall developer Frank Lowy topped the
list of Jewish donations with $624,200 - $311,900 to the Australian
Labor Party (ALP) and $312,300 to the Liberals.
The bulk came from Lowy's private company Croissy Pty Ltd,
supplemented by smaller donations under $10,000 from Westfield
Capital Corporation.
Harry Triguboff's Meriton Apartments gave $250,000 to the
Liberals' fundraising front The Free Enterprise Foundation. Another
$27,917 went to the Liberals in NSW. The ALP's NSW branch received
$107,400 in two $50,000 donations and a number of other smaller
donations.
Packaging magnate Richard Pratt, through Pratt Holdings Pty
Ltd, was also a major contributor to The Free Enterprise Foundation
with a $200,000 gift. Another $6000 went directly to the Liberals and
$2500 to the National Party in NSW. The ALP's Victorian branch
received $100,000 and the ALP in NSW $25,000.
Both the Liberal Party and the ALP benefited from the Gandel Group
and another Gandel company, Northgan. The ALP received $95,000, the
Liberals $86,300.
Isador Magid gave $50,000 to the Victorian branch of the
ALP.
Donations to the ALP headquarters and state branches from all over
Australia totalled $60,268,768. The Liberal Party, nationally and in
the states, received $58,250,015; the National Party, $9,180,641.
Pauline Hanson's One Nation, despite its virtual demise, received
$1,482,929.
