Seven West, Nine listed as donors

Seven West Media reported $26,250 in political donations in the year to June, most of which went to branches of the Liberal and National parties.

AEC disclosures released yesterday morning reveal Seven West Media in July 2020 donated the funds, including $10,000 to the Liberals in Tasmania.

That state held an election in May 2021, at which the Liberals narrowly retained a one-seat majority in the state’s House of Assembly.

Most donations made by Seven West went to the coalition parties, with a further $1,950 donated to the Liberals in NSW and $3,300 donated to the federal National party.

Its largest single contribution was to the Australian Labor Party, to which it donated $11,000 in August.

Nine Entertainment was also revealed to have made political donations in the most recent reporting period, having donated $27,500 to the Liberals in December 2020.

The company has since instituted a self-imposed ban on making political donations.

While the donations do not suggest impropriety on behalf of either Seven West Media or Nine Entertainment, some figures, most notably former opposition leader Mike Nahan, have previously warned of the possible takeover of media outlets by commercial interests, addressing state parliament on the matter in November 2020.

"It is an important and healthy characteristic for the Australia media landscape that most media outlets are independent in terms of ownership and operation of non-commercial interest," he said.

"That is the general characteristic of our media and it adds to its quality.

"In Western Australia, the dominant commercial media outlet has ownership links to a large range of commercial operations in this state.

"These operations have many dealings with state and federal governments.

"That is not surprising or threatening and, indeed, is appropriate.

"The concern lies with the potential use of media outlets to advance non-media commercial interests.

"The solution lies not in special regulation or prohibitions but strict enforcement of, again, transparency and tendering guidelines.

"If we do not learn the lessons of the past, we are bound to repeat them."

Shares in Seven were trading at $0.69 each at 4pm AEDT, while shares in Nine were trading at $2.73.