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Buying in: privatisation of politics and the 2013 election Clive Palmer outspent Labor in final week advertising blitz, analysis reveals
(35 minutes later)
Mining magnate Clive Palmer outspent the then incumbent Labor government in the final week of September’s election campaign, with new figures from Nielsen recording a $2.7m advertising blitz in the closing weeks.Mining magnate Clive Palmer outspent the then incumbent Labor government in the final week of September’s election campaign, with new figures from Nielsen recording a $2.7m advertising blitz in the closing weeks.
Labor’s spend in the same period was about $1.5m.Labor’s spend in the same period was about $1.5m.
The huge investment by the businessman yielded dividends, with three Palmer United party senators elected, and possibly Palmer himself in the lower house seat of Fairfax. Palmer has also recruited another senator, Ricky Muir, a representative of the Motoring Enthusiast party, to vote with the PUP as a bloc in the upper house when the new Senate sits in 2014.The huge investment by the businessman yielded dividends, with three Palmer United party senators elected, and possibly Palmer himself in the lower house seat of Fairfax. Palmer has also recruited another senator, Ricky Muir, a representative of the Motoring Enthusiast party, to vote with the PUP as a bloc in the upper house when the new Senate sits in 2014.
The Australian Electoral Commission has confirmed that Palmer will get $2.2m back from the taxpayer in the form of public funding, reflecting his party’s comparatively high vote in the 2013 poll.The Australian Electoral Commission has confirmed that Palmer will get $2.2m back from the taxpayer in the form of public funding, reflecting his party’s comparatively high vote in the 2013 poll.
The huge spend from Palmer – and the success of his campaign – presages a major shift in Australian politics. There has been a nascent debate in Australia about high-wealth individuals, corporate interests and other third parties becoming more substantial players than at any time in our history.The huge spend from Palmer – and the success of his campaign – presages a major shift in Australian politics. There has been a nascent debate in Australia about high-wealth individuals, corporate interests and other third parties becoming more substantial players than at any time in our history.
But thus far, the debate has yielded nothing concrete by way of reform.But thus far, the debate has yielded nothing concrete by way of reform.
On Monday, the ALP national secretary, George Wright, told Guardian Australia: “The real concern here has nothing to do with Clive Palmer of his Palmer United party who, in truth, we know very little about, other than that Mr Palmer was previously a lifelong supporter and member of the LNP [Liberal National party]”On Monday, the ALP national secretary, George Wright, told Guardian Australia: “The real concern here has nothing to do with Clive Palmer of his Palmer United party who, in truth, we know very little about, other than that Mr Palmer was previously a lifelong supporter and member of the LNP [Liberal National party]”
Wright said it was important to ensure 2013 did not represent a shift “towards the type of privatisation of politics that we have seen happen in the US – a privatisation of politics where mega-wealthy individuals, with none of the accountability that goes with being a genuine political party, can have a disproportionately loud voice in, and influence on, politics”.Wright said it was important to ensure 2013 did not represent a shift “towards the type of privatisation of politics that we have seen happen in the US – a privatisation of politics where mega-wealthy individuals, with none of the accountability that goes with being a genuine political party, can have a disproportionately loud voice in, and influence on, politics”.
“That would be a bad thing for democracy in Australia and we should actively avoid it happening here,” Wright said.“That would be a bad thing for democracy in Australia and we should actively avoid it happening here,” Wright said.
The Liberal party was the biggest spender on campaign ads, according to the Nielsen figures, investing $4m in the last decisive stretch. The Greens’ investment in the same period was about $700,000.The Liberal party was the biggest spender on campaign ads, according to the Nielsen figures, investing $4m in the last decisive stretch. The Greens’ investment in the same period was about $700,000.
Two third parties were also included in the Nielsen figures. The Australian Council of Trade Unions invested campaign dollars in the first two weeks, but pulled back in the closing stages to almost zero.Two third parties were also included in the Nielsen figures. The Australian Council of Trade Unions invested campaign dollars in the first two weeks, but pulled back in the closing stages to almost zero.
The ACTU’s Your Rights at Work campaign in 2007 is viewed by many experts as a substantial contributor to John Howard’s election loss in that year – and a prototype for third party special interest campaigns during elections.The ACTU’s Your Rights at Work campaign in 2007 is viewed by many experts as a substantial contributor to John Howard’s election loss in that year – and a prototype for third party special interest campaigns during elections.
The Australian Salary Packaging Industry Association – a little known lobby group before events of this year – was another significant player in 2013.The Australian Salary Packaging Industry Association – a little known lobby group before events of this year – was another significant player in 2013.
ASPIA ran a strong public campaign against a proposal by the ALP to tighten the rules governing the private use of company cars under the fringe benefits tax regime. The crackdown was expected to raise $1.8bn in revenue. ASPIA spent $1m over the final two weeks of the election, according to Nielsen.ASPIA ran a strong public campaign against a proposal by the ALP to tighten the rules governing the private use of company cars under the fringe benefits tax regime. The crackdown was expected to raise $1.8bn in revenue. ASPIA spent $1m over the final two weeks of the election, according to Nielsen.
The Coalition opposes the FBT measure, therefore it will not be implemented.The Coalition opposes the FBT measure, therefore it will not be implemented.
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