Tamworth political donors give $40,513.18 ahead of the March state election

The new data released by the NSW Electoral Commission shows candidates and political parties in Tamworth received more than $40,000 in declared donations.

The Leader crunched the numbers which showed 31 donations were made ahead of the March 25 date totalling $40,513.18.

According to the figures, the National Party of Australia received $32,130 in donations from the Tamworth area.

Individual local donors include Tamworth businessman Gregory Roy Upton, who donated more than $5000 to the Nationals; Murray John O'Keefe - who is a current serving Gunnedah councillor and mining manager - donated $1330 to the Nationals; Thomas Henry Hellmann donated $5000 to the Liberal Party; and Rupert Michael Steel donated $1065 to the Liberals.

Tamworth businesses that made donations included Apollo Engineering, Belmore Engineering, and Tamex Transport; along with Quirindi-based business Castle Mountain Mining and Gunnedah business Kelaher Mining all donated $1200 each.

However, despite the large number of donations not a single cent was declared locally for the Labor Party.

The Liberal Party was given $6065 in donations; the Greens received $1318.18, and the Elizabeth Farrelly Independents group received $1000 locally.

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As part of the Election Funding, Expenditure and Disclosures Act, all reportable political donations of $1000 or more, contributed in the lead-up to the 2023 NSW State election must be made available to the public.

Donors who made multiple contributions which totalled more than $1000 also have to be declared, under the state laws.

The data disclosures show more than $6.5 million was donated in some 5100 declared contributions in the lead up to the 2023 NSW election.

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