An investigation shows close links between the tobacco industry and the National Party as former deputy PM John Anderson plots his political comeback. In this final of our State Capture series on corporate members of political parties, Stephanie Tran reports on the company in which Anderson is a shareholder and its links to Phillip Morris.
most recent search Stephanie Tran
State Capture: Coalition assault on GetUp backfires, catches a rash of fossil fuel donors
It was a magnificent shot-in-the-foot, a political “own goal” directed at its ideological foes, and driven by a relentless campaign by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp, but an own-goal which backfired and caught all the Coalition friendly lobby groups in a red-tape nightmare. Stephanie Tran reports on political donations.
State Capture: top corporations identified as members of both Liberal and Labor parties
Companies which benefit enormously from government policy are also actual members of both the major political parties. A surprising data investigation by Stephanie Tran shows the likes of Woodside, Wesfarmers, PwC and ASX are Platinum members of the Liberal and Labor parties and membership fees are identical.
Star Track/Australia Post
Bizarrely, the government actually owns a company on the Secret Rich List as Australia Post acquired the “grandfathered” company Star Track. Star Track has an exemption from financial reporting.
Whither Democracy? Political donations triple as AEC prepares 2021 data drop
When the Australian Electoral Commission drops its political donations data tomorrow, it will almost certainly show that corporate donations are rising at an alarming clip and that Australia is tracking the US. Stephanie Tran and Michael West report on the extraordinary rise of money in politics.
Rosemount Estate
Rosemount Estate was founded by the late Bob Oatley in 1974. The winery has moved from one prominent owner to another while being underpinned by the grandfathered exemption. Treasury Wine Estates, Australia’s largest wine producer, is the current owner of this dark company.
Bill & Imelda Roche
Bill and Imelda Roche turned a small investment in American cosmetics business Nutrimedics into billion dollar property empire, Roche Group. They are linked to three Dark Companies which enjoy “grandfathering” exemptions.
Ralph Sarich
Ralph Sarich rose to fame in the 1970s as the inventor of the Orbital Engine and Orbital Combustion Process. After selling his stake in Orbital, Sarich ploughed his profits into property development and investment, establishing Cape Bouvard Investments, a Dark Company
Ramsay Health Care
Founded by one of Australia’s largest Liberal Party donors, the late Paul Ramsay, Ramsay Health Care is the largest private hospital group in Australia with 72 hospitals. Seven dark companies underpin the Ramsay family healthcare empire.
Grahame Mapp
Grahame Mapp has been on every AFR rich list since it was first established in 1984. Mapp has business interests in various sectors, including mining, entertainment, property, and horseracing. He is affiliated with two dark companies on the Secret Rich List.
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