Who’s funding WA’s parties ahead of the Secret Harbour byelection?

Resources giants have tipped tens of thousands of dollars into the parties considered frontrunners in the looming battle for Secret Harbour.

A war of words erupted after questions were asked over political donations, with private companies within the resources and building sector, alongside union groups, emerging as some of the biggest donors to West Australian parties over the past two months.

In total, WA Labor has received more than $650,000 in gifted donations since July 1, data from the WA Electoral Commission shows.

That is far greater than the WA Liberals, which received just shy of $190,000.

The biggest donation gifted in that timeframe comes from Leichhardt Industrials Group, which donated $27,500 to an associated entity with the Labor Party.

Austral Limited, Hall and Prior Aged Care, and Coogee Chemicals also donated $27,500 each, but that went to the Liberals.

When Premier Roger Cook announced Georgia Tree – who has been part of the Labor Party since 2013, and spent time working in the office of federal Resources Minister Madeleine King – as the new candidate for the seat vacated by Paul Papalia in early July, her background with the resources sector, specifically as a Woodside government relations staffer, came into question.

Tree gave a direct answer to a pointed question at a press conference when asked if she was “pro-gas”, given her work history, simply replying: “Yes”.

Woodside Energy has since gifted WA Labor nearly $15,000. The company has also gifted $5000 to the Liberals.

A spokesperson said Woodside did not endorse or donate to campaign funds for any political party, politician or candidate for public office in any country.

“The events that have been publicly disclosed by the Western Australian Electoral Commission since 1 July are consistent with Woodside’s previous attendance at longstanding and established forums with political parties,” they said.

“Woodside respects the right of employees to stand for political office, and employees have done so for a range of parties at both state and federal levels.

“Any suggestion that an individual’s political candidacy influences Woodside’s engagement activities or political contributions is incorrect and inconsistent with our political donations policy and approach to political engagement.”

One Nation received far fewer donations than the major two parties, according to the commission data, with $48,000 across three separate gifts.