Money flowing to the Australian Council of Trade Unions
$160,114,652 flowed to the Australian Council of Trade Unions (2018-19 to 2024-25) from 212 sources; $122,245,623 as donations, $0 public funding. Includes an estimated $1.1m from New South Wales Nurses and Midwives' Association via related bodies. Sources merged and classified, with flows through associated entities.
Total receipts
$160,114,652
2018-19 to 2024-25
Donations
$122,245,623
76% of receipts
Public funding
$0
212 sources in all
What you won't find in the AEC's own listing:
one name per source (spelling variants merged), every source labelled (donor, public funding, business income,
transfer), party branches added up without double counting, and the routes money takes through related
companies and trusts. Amounts through related bodies are estimates.
How this differs from the AEC data »
Key facts
- How much money has the Australian Council of Trade Unions received? Australian Council of Trade Unions reported $160,114,652 in receipts between 2018-19 and 2024-25, from 212 sources. $122,245,623 (76%) was donations and $0 (0%) was public funding.
- Where does the money flowing to the Australian Council of Trade Unions come from? The largest non-government sources were The Union Education Foundation Limited ($12,347,216); Australian Education Union (AEU) Federal Office ($6,274,030); Shop Distributive and Allied Employees Association ($6,191,272).
- Does money reach the Australian Council of Trade Unions through related companies or trusts? Routes through related bodies (estimated): New South Wales Nurses and Midwives' Association → Australian Nursing & Midwifery Federation → Australian Council of Trade Unions ($1,076,590); Shop Distributive & Allied Employees' Association NSW Branch → Shop, Distributive & Allied Employees' Association - National → Australian Council of Trade Unions ($943,714).
What the money is made of
| Donors - organisations | $116,865,382 | 73% |
| Government & tax | $20,112,695 | 13% |
| Transfers from related bodies | $16,618,947 | 10% |
| Donors - individuals | $5,380,241 | 3% |
| Business & financial income | $1,137,387 | 1% |
How the money flows
Left to right: original source, any associated body it passed through, then this recipient. Band width is the dollar amount; steps before the last are estimates. Public funding, bank and government income is grouped, and small sources are combined into "Other sources".
Who is behind the money
"Direct" is what the AEC return shows this body receiving from that source. "Via associated bodies" is an estimate of money that reached this body through another recipient (for example a company that received from the source, then passed money on).
| Origin | Type | Direct | Via associated bodies (est.) | Total | Main route |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Employment and Workplace Relations | Government & tax | $17,013,305 | – | $17,013,305 | |
| The Union Education Foundation Limited | Donors - organisations | $12,347,216 | – | $12,347,216 | |
| Australian Education Union (AEU) Federal Office | Donors - organisations | $6,274,030 | – | $6,274,030 | |
| Shop Distributive and Allied Employees Association | Donors - organisations | $6,191,272 | – | $6,191,272 | |
| Australian Education Union (AEU) | Donors - organisations | $5,221,819 | – | $5,221,819 | |
| United Workers Union | Transfers from related bodies | $4,653,970 | – | $4,653,970 | |
| Shop, Distributive & Allied Employees' Association - National | Transfers from related bodies | $4,645,345 | – | $4,645,345 | |
| Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining & Energy Union (CFMMEU) National Office | Donors - organisations | $4,290,688 | – | $4,290,688 | |
| Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) | Donors - organisations | $3,532,800 | – | $3,532,800 | |
| Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining & Energy Union (CFMMEU) | Donors - organisations | $3,225,591 | – | $3,225,591 | |
| 40BA PTY LTD | Donors - organisations | $3,024,896 | $159,151 | $3,184,047 | 40BA PTY LTD → Shop Distributive & Allied Employees' Association NSW Branch → Shop, Distributive & Allied Employees' Association - National → Australian Council of Trade Unions |
| Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) Federal Office | Donors - organisations | $3,082,315 | – | $3,082,315 | |
| Australian Services Union (ASU) National Office | Donors - organisations | $2,686,949 | – | $2,686,949 | |
| Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) (Federal Office - Melbourne) | Donors - organisations | $2,615,496 | – | $2,615,496 | |
| E.H. Tebbutt & Sons | Donors - organisations | $2,608,660 | – | $2,608,660 | |
| United Voice National Office | Donors - organisations | $2,263,834 | – | $2,263,834 | |
| Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) National Office - Melbourne | Donors - organisations | $2,026,710 | – | $2,026,710 | |
| Health Services Union (HSU) | Donors - organisations | $1,994,928 | – | $1,994,928 | |
| Independent Education Union of Australia (IEU) Federal Office | Donors - organisations | $1,958,250 | – | $1,958,250 | |
| Australian Services Union (ASU) | Donors - organisations | $1,950,036 | – | $1,950,036 | |
| Department of Industry | Government & tax | $1,897,500 | – | $1,897,500 | |
| Health Services Union (HSU) National Office | Donors - organisations | $1,736,648 | – | $1,736,648 | |
| Communications, Electrical & Plumbing Union of Australia (CEPU) National Office | Donors - organisations | $1,714,021 | – | $1,714,021 | |
| Australian Nursing & Midwifery Federation | Transfers from related bodies | $1,687,259 | – | $1,687,259 | |
| New South Wales Nurses and Midwives' Association | Transfers from related bodies | $589,131 | $1,076,590 | $1,665,721 | New South Wales Nurses and Midwives' Association → Australian Nursing & Midwifery Federation → Australian Council of Trade Unions |
| Australian Super | Donors - organisations | $1,575,293 | $69,461 | $1,644,754 | Australian Super → United Workers Union → Australian Council of Trade Unions |
| Community and Public Sector Union (SPSF Group) NSW Branch | Donors - organisations | $1,617,411 | – | $1,617,411 | |
| Independent Education Union of Australia (IEU) | Donors - organisations | $1,617,092 | – | $1,617,092 | |
| New South Wales Nurses and Midwives' Association (NSWNMA) | Donors - organisations | $1,567,436 | – | $1,567,436 | |
| Advanced Solutions International | Donors - individuals | $1,558,428 | – | $1,558,428 | |
| Australian Workers' Union (AWU) National Office | Donors - organisations | $1,549,683 | – | $1,549,683 | |
| Communications, Electrical & Plumbing Union of Australia (CEPU) | Donors - organisations | $1,469,718 | – | $1,469,718 | |
| Australian Education Union | Transfers from related bodies | $1,414,832 | – | $1,414,832 | |
| Communications, Electrical & Plumbing Union of Australia (CEPU) Electrical Division - VIC Branch | Donors - organisations | $1,410,000 | – | $1,410,000 | |
| Community and Public Sector Union (PSU Group) | Transfers from related bodies | $1,398,555 | – | $1,398,555 | |
| Transport Workers Union of Australia (TWU) National Office | Donors - organisations | $1,375,779 | – | $1,375,779 | |
| Australian Services Union (ASU) National Office - Melbourne | Donors - organisations | $1,328,183 | – | $1,328,183 | |
| Australian Taxation Office | Government & tax | $896,656 | $242,126 | $1,138,782 | Australian Taxation Office → United Workers Union → Australian Council of Trade Unions |
| United Workers Union National Office | Donors - organisations | $1,071,387 | – | $1,071,387 | |
| Community and Public Sector Union (PSU Group) National Office | Donors - organisations | $1,037,292 | – | $1,037,292 |
Funding tree
Largest direct sources. Open an entry to see who funded it (estimated, same financial years).
- Department of Employment and Workplace Relations $17,013,305
- The Union Education Foundation Limited $12,347,216
- Australian Education Union (AEU) Federal Office $6,274,030
- Shop Distributive and Allied Employees Association $6,191,272
- Australian Education Union (AEU) $5,221,819
United Workers Union $4,653,970
- Host Plus $453,043 (est.)
- United Voice Legal $320,718 (est.)
- J.P. Sesto & Co $286,931 (est.)
- Commercial Property Management $270,330 (est.)
- Australian Taxation Office $189,960 (est.)
- Beacon Real Estate $172,852 (est.)
- Gustav Holdings Pty Ltd $162,676 (est.)
- PERFECTION FRESH PTY LTD $155,220 (est.)
- River Nile School $152,550 (est.)
- Morgan Stanley $151,269 (est.)
- LUCRF Super $147,778 (est.)
- COMMERCIAL PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT PTY LTD $134,762 (est.)
Shop, Distributive & Allied Employees' Association - National $4,645,345
- Shop Distributive & Allied Employees' Association NSW Branch $943,714 (est.)
- Shop Distributive & Allied Employees Association - VIC Branch $791,536 (est.)
- Shop Distributive and Allied Employees Association (QLD Branch) $585,961 (est.)
- Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association, South Australian and Northern Territory Branch $434,433 (est.)
- The Shop, Distributive & Allied Employees' Association of Western Australia $427,754 (est.)
- SDA Newcastle Branch $228,990 (est.)
- Partnervest $133,651 (est.)
- Warakirri Asset Management $131,082 (est.)
- Commonwealth Bank of Australia $121,927 (est.)
- IFS Invest $100,591 (est.)
- Shop Distributive & Allied Employees Association - Tasmanian Branch $95,470 (est.)
- Radnik CBD P/L $93,439 (est.)
- Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining & Energy Union (CFMMEU) National Office $4,290,688
- Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) $3,532,800
- Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining & Energy Union (CFMMEU) $3,225,591
- Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) Federal Office $3,082,315
- 40BA PTY LTD $3,024,896
Where this body sends money
| Recipient | Relationship | Years | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shop, Distributive & Allied Employees' Association - National | 2009-10 to 2022-23 | $932,725 | |
| CFMEU | 2018-19 to 2024-25 | $564,204 | |
| United Workers Union | 2009-10 to 2021-22 | $352,645 | |
| Automotive Food Metals Engineering Printing & Kindred Ind. Union | 2009-10 to 2011-12 | $143,353 | |
| Community and Public Sector Union (PSU Group) | 2011-12 to 2012-13 | $138,893 | |
| Australian Workers Union - National Office | 2009-10 | $110,000 | |
| The Australian Workers' Union of Employees Queensland | 2006-07 to 2007-08 | $109,642 | |
| Australian Nursing & Midwifery Federation | 2018-19 to 2019-20 | $74,822 | |
| Australian Labor Party (ALP) | 2007-08 to 2013-14 | $60,476 | |
| National Union of Workers - National Office | 2009-10 | $55,000 | |
| Australian Services Union of NSW & ACT (Services) Branch | 2013-14 | $40,293 | |
| Australian Workers Union WA Branch | 2018-19 | $34,445 | |
| Australian Education Union | 2024-25 | $33,784 | |
| CFMEU Manufacturing Division | 2018-19 | $26,400 | |
| Australian Labor Party (Victorian Branch) | 2010-11 | $25,000 |
By financial year
| Year | Donations | Transfers | Public funding | Business & other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | $15,904,337 | $1,655,717 | $0 | $11,539,332 | $29,099,386 |
| 2023-24 | $10,099,537 | $6,161,486 | $0 | $7,486,822 | $23,747,845 |
| 2022-23 | $18,481,316 | $1,665,642 | $0 | $60,833 | $20,207,791 |
| 2021-22 | $21,959,023 | $1,880,991 | $0 | $556,970 | $24,396,984 |
| 2020-21 | $19,602,703 | $1,725,207 | $0 | $859,875 | $22,187,785 |
| 2019-20 | $15,571,698 | $2,060,920 | $0 | $69,099 | $17,701,717 |
| 2018-19 | $20,627,009 | $1,468,984 | $0 | $677,151 | $22,773,144 |
About this data
Returns report yearly totals, not individual transactions, so amounts passing through related bodies are estimated by apportioning what an intermediary passed on across the sources that funded it that year. Names are merged only when the spelling clearly refers to the same body, so one entity can still appear under more than one name. Donors are organisations or individuals giving money; public funding is paid by electoral commissions; business and financial income is bank interest, payment processors and similar; transfers are money moved from a related party body, company or trust.
Source: Australian Electoral Commission, Transparency Register annual returns (Detailed Receipts, Associated Entity Returns, Party Returns). Not an official AEC publication. Updated 7 November 2026. See the About popup for what we add and for licensing.