Trump backer Pratt gave Albanese $1 million before PM attended Katy Perry party

Billionaire packaging king Anthony Pratt tipped $1 million into Anthony Albanese’s campaign fund around the time the prime minister attended a Katy Perry concert at Pratt’s house.

Pratt’s outlay was the single biggest donation as familiar faces dominated the top echelon of political donors in the past financial year, with climate activists continuing to heavily bankroll the teal independent movement.

The Australian Electoral Commission on Monday morning released data showing money raised and spent by Australian political parties and campaign organisations for the 2023-24 financial year.

Investors Rob Keldoulis and Marcus Catsaras were the strongest backers of the teal movement last year, donating more than $1 million each throughout the year to Climate 200, making them the joint-largest donors in the country.

Pratt, the Visy chief who supported US President Donald Trump’s campaign last year, gave $1 million to the Labor Party in January 2024. Pratt has also donated millions to the Liberal Party in previous years.

The next month, he held a private event at his Raheen mansion at which Perry performed to a crowd of influential business and political leaders, including the prime minister. At the time, this masthead reported Pratt’s hosting of the event would likely coincide with a large donation.

As they gear up for an election year, the Liberal and Labor parties and their state branches raked nearly identical amounts, more than $64 million each. Labor’s national office took in $15 million compared to the Liberal’s $11 million.

Climate 200, which funds the teal movement, received $5.9 million.

Of Climate 200’s donations, $144,000 and $122,000 went to Melbourne MPs Zoe Daniels and Monique Ryan, respectively, indicating the intensity of their local battles with Liberal candidates. Less than $80,000 went to each of the Sydney teal MPs.