Clive Palmer

Clive Palmer, the billionaire mining magnate and founder of the United Australia Party, has threatened to launch a High Court challenge over the Australian government's plans to curb political donations. The Albanese government is set to introduce legislation next week that would cap donations to political parties at $600,000 per year and limit individual donations to candidates and politicians to $20,000. The proposed reforms would also impose spending caps of $90 million for federal campaigns and $800,000 per electorate. Mr. Palmer, who spent over $100 million to win just one Senate seat in the 2022 election, claims the reforms are designed to "suppress competition" and limit the ability of independents to run for office. He accused the Labor and Liberal parties of working together to "control Australians" and their democratic freedoms. "As an Australian citizen, I will challenge these unconstitutional […]