Tech firms' donations favour NSW Libs
Tech companies have overwhelmingly supported the New South Wales Liberal Party over the New South Wales Labor party in the last financial year, according to donation figures released by the Election Funding Authority (EFA) this week.
In the year that saw the long-running but deeply unpopular Labor government ousted from office in New South Wales, and replaced by the coalition, led by Premier Barry O'Farrell, the Liberal Party enjoyed the lion's share of political donations in the state, receiving a total $9,232,856.21 in the year ending 30 June 2011, compared to Labor's total donations of $3,760,765.36. The Nationals also took $2,311,510.58 in funding for the year.
The only noticeable donation from tech companies to Labor was from consulting firm Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, which donated $28,342.
The rest, according to the EFA, went to the Coalition.
CSC Australia was by far the biggest donor, with $15,827.27 provided over the last year. Optus was a close second, with $14,909.09. Macquarie Telecom donated $6000 in total, while Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu donated just over $10,000. Telstra was the lowest spender in 2010-11, coughing up $3218.18.
Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu was also a big donor to the NSW Nationals, accounting for $21,100 in donations.
While donations for the coalition in New South Wales are up overall, spending by tech companies appears to be down. In 2009, Telstra spent $54,830 between both the Labor and Liberal parties, while Deloitte spent $104,891. Macquarie Telecom also spent $20,000 split between the two parties.
Information on other parties, such as The Greens, has yet to be published.