Political parties receive more than $138m in ‘dark money’ before new donation rules begin

The release of the 2024-25 political financial disclosure reports found a record amount of donations made to the major parties. Photograph: Lukas Coch/EPA

The source of more than $138m in donations to Australian political parties remains unknown, thanks to contributions that fall below the disclosure threshold in the federal electoral system that are known as “dark money”.

The Australian Electoral Commission’s release of the 2024-25 political financial disclosure reports found a record amount of donations made to the major parties. There was also a record in terms of all money declared.