Prominent WA names on Voice donor list

Billionaire prospector Mark Creasy, Wesfarmers chairman Michael Chaney, and Coogee Chemicals’ Martin family were among prominent Western Australians who donated to Voice referendum campaigns last year.

Mr Creasy’s Yandal Investments ($25,000) and Mr Chaney ($20,000) were among those who poured more than $60 million into the Yes campaign last year for the Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum, which was voted down in every state and territory except the ACT.

The Yes side’s $60 million campaign spend dwarfed the No side’s $25 million.

The Paul Ramsay Foundation was the largest overall donor, tipping in more than $7 million to the Yes campaign.

ANZ was the largest corporate donor, funneling $2.54 million into the Yes campaign.

Woodside, Commonwealth Bank, Westpac, Wesfarmers, BHP, and Rio Tinto each donated at least $2 million to the Yes campaign.

In Western Australia South32 ($300,000), Aarnja ($100,000), Canva ($105,040), and Northern Star Resources ($250,000) donated to the Yes campaign.

The Martin family’s Coogee Chemicals ($40,000), Perth doctor Bryant Macfie ($900,000), and former car salesman Brian Anderson ($50,000) donated to the No campaign.

Mr Anderson donated more than $1 million to conservative lobby group Advance Australia in 2022, prior to the Voice campaign beginning.

Nationwide, Rupert Murdoch’s niece Julie Kantor ($400,000), venture capitalist Roger Allen ($500,000), and former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull ($50,000) were among prominent Yes donors.

Bakers Delight boss Roger Gillespie ($90,000), Clive Palmer’s Mineralogy ($1.9 million), Blackmores executive director Marcus Blackmore ($20,000), ex-BHP boss Marius Kloppers ($100,000) and ex-Consolidated Pastoral Company chairman Ken Warriner ($100,00) were among prominent No donors.

Of entities campaigning for the Voice, Australians for Indigenous Constitutional Recognition drew $47.4 million in donations and spent $43.8 million.

GetUp raised $1.7 million and spent $1.4 million, and the University of NSW raised $11.2 million and spent $10.3 million.

On the No side, the Liberal Party raised and spent about $1.9 million, Australians for Unity raised $10.8 million and spent $11.8 million, and Advance Australia raised $1.3 million and spent $10.4 million.

Donations below $15,200 did not have to be declared.