The billionaires bankrolling rightwing astroturfer Advance Australia
Gina Rinehart, James Packer, and a network of wealthy business figures among major financial backers of right-wing lobby group Advance Australia prior to the 2025 election.
In the 2024-25 financial year Advance reported $13.5 million in receipts. However, the sources of only $5.3 million of the funds is disclosed, leaving $8.2 million in “dark money”.
During the election, Advance spent $1.7 million on social media advertising promoting anti-immigration policies and took credit for “destroying” the Greens.
AEC Transparency data reveals its backers range from billionaires to the merely wealthy. Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd, Rinehart’s flagship mining company, was the largest donor to Advance in the 2024-25 financial year, contributing $895,000.
Members of the wealthy O’Neil family were also significant donors, making donations totalling $600,000 via multiple companies. Willimbury Pty Ltd donated $300,000, Sixmilebridge Pty Ltd $200,000, and Nedigi Pty Ltd $100,000 to Advance. Sixmilebridge also separately donated $130,000 to the Liberal Party. The O’Neil family have been a significant donor to Advance over multiple years.
SP Newcastle Pty Limited, associated with businessman Rob Milner, gave $250,000, though a corresponding donor return had not yet been filed.
Investment executive Angus Aitken, executive chair of Aitken Mount Capital Partners, donated $200,000.
Simon Fenwick, a director of the Institute of Public Affairs and co-founder of International Value Advisers, donated $50,000 in his own name in addition to $200,000 through Silver River Investment Holdings as trustee for the Fenwick Family Trust.
Billionaire heir James Packer’s Consolidated Press Holdings Pty Limited donated $150,000.
Other six-figure donors included storage billionaire Sam Kennard (via Siesta Holdings Australia Pty Ltd, $125,000), Perth car dealer Brian Anderson ($100,000, in addition to $150,000 to the Liberal party), fund manager Peter Cooper (PCI Pty Ltd, $100,000), hotel owner and lawyer Michael O’Hara (Paslibdan Pty Ltd, $100,000), and earthmoving company founder Quentin Birt ($100,000).
Harbig Cunningham Trust
Some donations flowed through opaque private trusts. The Harbig Cunningham Trust donated $100,000. Harbig Nominees Pty Ltd, is the nominee company that holds assets on behalf of the trust.
Shareholders in Harbig Nominees include Mark Leibler (49 shares), Anne Neate (50 shares) and Richard Harbig (1 share). Richard Harbig is a Melbourne businessman and is also a director of the Harbig Family Foundation.
Plymouth Brethren Christian Church
According to SMH reporting, several major Advance donors have links to charities associated with the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, a conservative religious sect formerly known as the Exclusive Brethren.
Rod Tunley donated $246,000, and David Steele $226,500. Both are listed as trustees in charities linked to the church. Andrew Gillies donated $145,000, while Gavin Grace and Peter Grace gave $18,500 each.
2024-25 Advance donors
Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd: $895,000
Willimbury Pty Ltd: $300,000
SP Newcastle Pty Limited: $250,000
Rod Tunley: $246,000
David Steele: $226,500
Angus Aitken: $200,000
Silver River Investment Holdings ATF Fenwick Family Trust: $200,000
Sixmilebridge Pty Limited: $200,000
Consolidated Press Holdings Pty Limited: $150,000
Andrew Gillies: $145,000
Siesta Holdings Australia Pty Ltd: $125,000
Brian Anderson: $100,000
Harbig Cunningham Trust: $100,000
John Hull: $100,000
Nedigi Pty Ltd: $100,000
Paslibdan Pty Ltd: $100,000
PCI Pty Ltd: $100,000
Quentin Birt: $100,000
Heather and John MacCulloch: $70,000
Tawjoy Pty Ltd: $65,000
Simon Maher: $60,000
Christopher Aylward: $51,000
Chilcotin Range Pty Ltd: $50,000
Coogee Chemicals Pty Ltd: $50,000
JMR Management Consultancy Services Pty Ltd: $50,000
Michael Anthony Quinn: $50,000
Roger Gillespie: $50,000
Simon Fenwick: $50,000
Currabulla Pty Ltd: $40,000
Marcus Blackmore: $40,000
Trisco Link Pty Ltd: $34,000
Brazil Farming Pty Ltd: $30,000
Michael Heine: $30,000
Ron Lesh: $30,000
Warwick Morris: $30,000
Spencer Grammer: $27,000
Peter John Griffin: $25,000
Wythenshawe Pty Ltd: $24,000
Kenneth Warriner: $21,200
Robert Smith: $20,500
Christine Fry: $20,000
David Orford: $20,000
Peter Vial: $20,000
Robert Mcgavin: $20,000
Strawcost Pty Ltd: $20,000
The Trustee for PG Trust: $20,000
Gavin Grace: $18,500
Peter Grace: $18,500
Belinda Fisher: $17,500
https://michaelwest.com.au/the-billionaires-bankrolling-rightwing-astroturfer-advance-australia/