ACT Labor's haul of private cash donations was worth more than triple the amount received by the Canberra Liberals in the past financial year, new figures show.
And while the major parties are grappling with financial pressures amid the coronavirus-induced recession, they both expect to spend up to the $1 million election year expenditure cap.
Financial disclosure returns published earlier this week showed ACT Labor received more than $330,000 worth of cash donations in 2019-20, not including those made by sitting parliamentarians, candidates or party officers. That compared with about $376,000 in the previous financial year.
In contrast, Alistair Coe's Canberra Liberals received about $110,000 from private donors in 2019-20, up from about $45,000 in 2018-19.
Labor disclosed a total of $1.78 million in receipts last financial year, a figure which includes cash donations, free room hire, receipts and in-kind gifts. The Liberals reported less than half that amount - $731,828.
The ALP's investment vehicle The 1973 Foundation was again the source of Labor's single largest donation, pumping more than $243,000 into the party's election year coffers.
Opposition Leader Alistair Coe on Wednesday claimed the donation was funded by revenue from Labor Club-owned poker machines, which had been funneled through the foundation to ACT Labor.
But ACT Labor secretary Mel James told The Canberra Times that the money had been sourced from profits made on commercial property assets owned by the foundation, which is run by a board made up of Labor figures.
Labor again received significant financial support from its union backers, with the construction union donating $57,500, in addition to $6670 worth of free room hire.
Sydney-based investment fund Better Future Fund put in $13,000.
The biggest financial supporter of the Canberra Liberals in the past financial year was again Forrest couple Craig and Eva Edwards, whose $50,000 donation in December came on the top of the $95,000 they donated to the party before the 2016 election.
The Canberra Times last week reported that Mr Edwards had donated to the newly formed Belco Party, run by his friend and former Liberal leader Bill Stefaniak.
The Liberals' second largest private cash donation, some $18,900, came from a company called Sun & Sea Australia. Lei Liu and Hao Wang are listed as director and secretary of Sun & Sea Australia, which is based out of Bunda Street in Civic, according to company records.
As reported last week, the Liberals have received donations in the past two months from a number of notable figures in the sporting and corporate world, including two senior members of the GWS Giants board.
Ms James said she had been bracing for a reduction in private donations this year as supporters reigned in spending amid the economic crisis.
But she said that largely hadn't eventuated and the party had continued to receive a steady stream of donations throughout 2020.
She confirmed Labor would spend up to the $1.068 million campaign year expenditure cap.
Canberra Liberal campaign director Josh Manuatu confirmed the party would spend up to the limit, which equates to $42,750 per candidate.
Mr Manuatu said the pandemic had created financial and logistical challenges for the Canberra Liberals, which were trying to end a near 20-year spell in opposition at next month's ACT election.
He said coronavirus restrictions forced the cancellation of events from March until June, depriving the party of crucial fundraising revenue.
"And after an extraordinary year, it is not surprising that many people are tightening their belts. Across the board, spending is significantly down as people are recession-proofing their personal budgets, and as an extension of that political parties have been affected," he said.
