Firms that donate to political parties twice as likely to win government contracts, analysis finds

Centre for Public Integrity director Geoffrey Watson said: ‘The data demonstrates that the donations achieve their purpose because they’re receiving more government work.’ Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP

Companies that make political donations are more than twice as likely to win government contracts and should be banned from working with departments for an entire electoral cycle, according to a key transparency group.

But a constitutional expert has warned that a ban could be an overreaction that confuses coincidence with corruption, given that public servants who award contracts may have no knowledge of donations to political parties.