The opposition returned two donations of $1100 each from Indian mining giant Adani, and secretary Noah Carroll amended Labor's report in mid-January to show the return of donations from the company behind the proposed Queensland mega mine.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten told the National Press Club this week he believed the mine plan had to "stack up commercially and environmentally" to be supported by Labor.

Labor's biggest donations included $150,000 from ANZ; $135,000 from Woodside Energy; $128,000 from the National Automotive Leasing and Salary Packaging Association and $108,000 from the Pharmacy Guild of Australia.

Reclusive mathematician Duncan Turpie continued his support of the Greens, topping the party's donations with $150,000. The party received $150,000 from two deceased estates.

With the threat of banking royal commission if Labor had won government in 2016, ANZ gave both the major parties $150,000.

The Commonwealth Bank donated more than $95,000.

The big banks have stopped most political donations, with the National Australia Bank announcing the end its large spending for the major parties in late 2016.


The reports show Aus Gold Mining, owned by Chinese-Australian steel magnate Sally Zou, gave the Liberal Party $366,064 last financial year.

Chinese-born businessman Chau Chak Wing's Hong Kong Kingston Investment donated $30,000 to NSW Labor in May 2017.

Tobacco giant Philip Morris reported donating $20,000 to David Leyonhjelm's Liberal Democratic Party and $15,000 to the National Party.

The Liberal and Labor parties no longer accept donations from tobacco companies.

James Packer's Crown Resorts donated $210,000 to both the major parties, ahead of Sydney's Star Entertainment which gave about $145,000.

Among the big four consulting firms, PricewaterhouseCoopers donated $371,000; KPMG gave $175,162; Ernst and Young gave $171,142 and Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu gave $102,459.

The coal industry's multi-million-dollar advertising and lobbying campaign arm, ACA Low Emissions Technologies, topped spending on political activities, spending $3.5 million nationally.

The company, funded by the Minerals Council, takes its name from the former Australian Coal Association which merged with the Minerals Council of Australia in 2013. The Minerals Council itself spent reported another $1.3 million on political expenditure in the period, and the Business Council spent $148,199.

Left-wing activist group GetUp! spent $821,000 while some $4.1 million in campaign spending was reported by unions led by the Australian Education Union and the ACTU. Industry Super Australia spent $244, 350.

Debt across the parties was more than $20 million last financial year, including $10.5 million for the Liberals and $6 million for Labor.