It’s no secret drug firms donate to political parties. But it’s still a secret exactly how much, and why
Donations of A$7.7 million over a decade have been disclosed. But that’s not the full amount, a new study shows.
Australia's major political parties received at least A$7.7 million over a decade from pharmaceutical companies, according to a new study. However, the actual amount remains unclear due to weaknesses in federal disclosure laws. The study, published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, highlights that discrepancies exist between the donations reported by companies and those received by political parties.
Pharmaceutical companies, like Medicines Australia and its 37 core members, contributed significant sums to both major parties, but the figures did not always match. The study suggests that the regularity and consistency of donations may indicate these contributions are more akin to membership fees or event attendances rather than strategic donations.
Despite the modest size of these contributions compared to other industries, they still hold strategic value in influencing political decisions regarding drug pricing and regulations. The Australian government is undergoing significant changes to its political funding and disclosure laws, which could impact the transparency of such donations.
Written by urgent.news from The Conversation AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
