How the NSW government can still benefit from developer money despite political donations ban

Lang Walker’s charity the Walker Family Foundation is a major patron of Sydney’s planned Powerhouse Museum Parramatta, having contributed $20m to the project.
Illustration: Powerhouse Museum

The New South Wales government is indirectly benefiting from donations from property developers who are legally able to give huge sums to fund prestige projects in the state, despite there being a ban on financial contributions to political parties.

One of the state’s biggest developers, Lang Walker, and his charity the Walker Family Foundation are now a major patron of the Powerhouse Museum, Campbelltown hospital and even the bicentennial of the NSW parliament, which will be celebrated in 2024.