‘Hypocrisy and shallowness’: the $110,000 ticket to Australian politicians in lead-up to election

The number of election fundraisers held by Australia’s major political parties is increasing as a federal election looms. Photograph: Cavan Images/Alamy

As Australia’s major parties stitched together a deal on donation laws in parliament last week, a small group of well-heeled business leaders gathered for dinner at the Cahoots Bar, a short drive away across Lake Burley Griffin.

Before they arrived at QT Canberra’s private dining room, they walked past the hotel’s “political wall of power” adorned with portraits of former prime ministers. It all added to the sense of occasion.