Climate 200 is bankrolling up to 75 percent of campaign donations for some independent candidates ahead of this weekend's election. Analysis by the ABC has revealed Climate 200 has donated more than three million dollars to 19 candidates around the country.
Category
📺
TVTranscript
00:00In southwest Victoria, independent Alex Dyson's trying to flip a once safe Liberal seat.
00:09Where's the money for Wannan?
00:10Well that's right.
00:11The former radio host's hoping to replicate the Climate 200 funded teal success of the last election.
00:17A teal wave washing away two ministers in Melbourne.
00:20He's playing with half a million dollars in Climate 200 donations.
00:25The seat of Wannan is enormous. It starts about 100km outside Melbourne and then stretches all the way to the South Australian border.
00:32It's one of dozens of seats being targeted by Climate 200.
00:36Across the country there are 35 candidates benefiting from Climate 200.
00:41Only about half have opted to publish donation details.
00:45I want to be upfront where I'm getting my money from instead of what the major parties do which is don't tell us where they get their funds from.
00:51On its website, Climate 200 makes clear it's supporting candidates committed to integrity in politics.
00:58It does make sense that real time reporting is done by those who want to advance integrity in politics.
01:05Of the candidates disclosing donor information, Mr Dyson is the second biggest beneficiary of Climate 200 money, led only by Victorian teal Zoe Daniel.
01:16They're followed by Deb Leonard and incumbent teals Kate Chaney and Allegra Spender.
01:22Under the law, details of large donations don't need to be made public until after the election.
01:28The question about transparency of funding should be asked of every single party or candidate in terms of informed voting, addressing corruption.
01:36But for those who commit and seek to be elected on the platform of integrity, I think they're rightfully held to higher standards.
01:43Climate 200 contributions range from about 10% up to 75% of candidates' campaign donations.
01:51I'm not sure the formula that Climate 200 uses to distribute the crowdfunding donations.
01:58Jenny Rolf's contesting Riverina in New South Wales.
02:01Her campaign's nearly half funded by Climate 200, thanks to a $40,000 donation.
02:08On the basis that I am committed to gender equality, transparency and honesty and science-backed solutions to the climate challenges.
02:17Climate 200 declined to answer questions about where its donations come from or go to.