DATA released by the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) this week, shows Coalition parties enjoyed the lion's share of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia's political donations in the 2020/21 financial year.
The data revealed the Guild spent a total of $295,149 on contributions to policital parties (up from $214,120 in FY2019/20), with $206,553 going to branches of the Liberal and National parties, while the Australian Labor Party received $88,596, across its Federal, Queensland and Western Australian branches.
The Federal branch of the Liberal Party of Australia topped the Guild's list of donations, receiving a total of $47,700, while the Liberal National Party of Queensland (LNP)was given the second largest sum ($43,490), with the National Party taking in $37,580 in contributions from the organisation.
Just under 40% of the Guild's political spending went to the major parties' Federal branches, with State elections during FY 2020/21 seeing significant funding go to the parties in Queensland and WA.
The Guild gave $36,821 to Labor in Queensland during the year, with $31,897 (86.6%) being donated in the lead up to the 31 Oct 2020 election, while close to 60% of the funding given to the LNP was made after the party's electoral defeat.
In WA, where Premier Mark McGowan's Labor won a significant majority, the Guild's spending was reasonably even, with the organisation contributing $21,575 to Labor, with the Liberal Party's State branch being given $20,733.
Labor's Federal branch received the largest single donation from the Guild in FY 2020/21, $27,500, which was given on 18 Mar 2021, with two subsequent contributions being made on 30 Mar 2021 ($500) and on 02 Jun 2021 ($2,200).
The Guild also contributed $25,550 to the Liberal Party of Australia's NSW Division, with the Tasmanian branch receiving a single donation of $16,500, while the South Australia arm of the party received $15,000.
Overall the Guild's $295,149 spending on political donations was the second highest in the last eight years, eclipsed only by the $773,791 it handed over in FY 2018/19 in the lead up to the last Federal Election.
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 02 Feb 22
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