Political Donations by Australian Companies

45 Pages Posted: 4 Dec 2001 Last revised: 24 Feb 2009

See all articles by Ian Ramsay

Ian Ramsay

Melbourne Law School - University of Melbourne

Geofrey P. Stapledon

University of Melbourne - Law School

Joel Vernon

University of Melbourne Law School

Abstract

Corporate political donations are controversial. These donations are of interest for several reasons including:

- a concern that commercial interests can be advanced by donating funds to political parties; and

- in the case of public companies, that the funds being donated are not those of the directors of the company who make the decision to donate the funds but are the funds of the company's shareholders.

This article begins by examining some of the more recent and topical responses to the phenomenon of corporate political donations. It then examines the motivations which apparently underpin corporate giving. The article then analyses the legal framework within which corporations may pursue philanthropy, which comprises corporate and electoral regulation, both under statute and at common law. This is followed by a presentation and analysis of the results of an empirical study of corporate donations to Australian political parties. The article concludes by outlining some options for law reform.

Keywords: corporate political donations

JEL Classification: K22

Suggested Citation

Ramsay, Ian and Stapledon, Geofrey P. and Vernon, Joel, Political Donations by Australian Companies. Federal Law Review, Vol. 29, No. 2, 2001, U of Melbourne, Public Law Research Paper No. 25, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=286112 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.286112

Ian Ramsay (Contact Author)

Melbourne Law School - University of Melbourne ( email )

University Square
185 Pelham Street, Carlton
Victoria, Victoria 3010
Australia
+61 3 8344 5332 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://law.unimelb.edu.au/about/staff/ian-ramsay

Geofrey P. Stapledon

University of Melbourne - Law School ( email )

Victoria 3010
Australia
+61 3 8344 8916 (Phone)
+61 3 8344 9971 (Fax)

Joel Vernon

University of Melbourne Law School ( email )

University Square
185 Pelham Street, Carlton
Victoria, Victoria 3010
Australia

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