Haines run supported by almost $366,000 in donations

DONORS gave $365,904 to support Helen Haines' successful bid for the seat of Indi at the 2022 federal election in May. According to the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) transparency register, Dr Haines' campaign received cash donations from 1412 individual donors, and did not receive any discretionary benefits. Political funding group Climate 200 donated $25,000 to Dr Haines' campaign, but all other donations were below the $14,500 disclosure threshold. Federal election candidate, political party and donor election disclosure forms were published by the AEC on November 7. Last year Dr Haines introduced a bill to reduce the threshold at which donations must be publicly disclosed from $14,500 to $1000. The bill also required mandatory reporting of donations each quarter and for donations above $14,500 to be declared within 5 days. "It is a failure of our electoral laws that right now we know too little about political donations, and what we do find out, comes way too late, up to a year after election day," Dr Haines said. "Candidates for major political parties also don't have to declare the donations they receive, with donations all rolled into the one party disclosure. "We only get half the picture. "Under our current laws major political party candidates' electoral disclosures show 'nil' received and 'nil' expenditure on a seat by seat basis. "Australians across the political spectrum want to see reform in this area and I look forward to continuing my work in this space during this term of Parliament." According to Dr Haines' website, all donations totaling above $1000 from an individual donor are published on the website each quarter, and donations above $14,500 are disclosed within five days.