In the six month disclosure period from July to December 2009, Labor NSW accepted $2.5 million in donations, an increase of $700,000 from the previous six months, while the NSW Liberals accepted $1.9 million in donations, down from $2 million in the previous six months.

"The dip in corporate donations to the Liberal Party last year reinforces that big business remains uncertain over Barry O'Farrell's leadership," said Ms Rhiannon.   

"The NSW Liberal Party disclosed 192 fundraisers, an average of one per day, to raise $1.4 million during the six month period.

"The NSW Labor fundraising machine held only 13 events to raise $1.2 million.

"Barry O'Farrell personally raised $174,650 at 10 fundraisers held in his name and electorate, including raising $108,100 at the Ku-ring-gai Business Breakfast on 3 September 2009.

"O'Farrell's failure to increase donations from the big end of town raises question about his ability to win the confidence of the business community.

"The NSW Coalition has been the beneficiary of donations from clubs, hotels and tobacco companies, accepting $41,705 from Clubs NSW, $57,926 from the Australian Hotels Association (AHA) and $49,750 from British American Tobacco over six months.

"NSW Labor has once again accepted a massive $110,000 from Star City Casino, at the same time as the government further relaxed the laws regulating the casino in Parliament.

"Other big donors during the six months included the Independent Retailers Association ($86,820), Delloitte Touche Tomatsu ($60,256), Manildra ($59,900), the developer Memo Corporation ($59,050), NSW Taxi Council ($50,050), Leighton Holdings ($57,800) and ERM Power ($39,750).

"It is startling to see how the corrupting influence of donations continues to taint NSW politics despite the commitments made by both major parties to clean up the mess.

"This latest disclosure reinforces the need for the Labor government to deliver on the finding of the recent NSW Upper House Election Funding inquiry.

"Despite the Opposition Leader's weak performance, the Coalition is still $3million ahead of Labor in the donations race since the 2007 state election," Ms Rhiannon said.

For information:  Lee Rhiannon - 9230 3551, 0427 861 568

The latest donations data can be found on the Greens' donations website.

Trends and highlights

NSW Election Funding Authority donations disclosure

1 July 2009 to 31 Dec 2009

1.  Trend over last three disclosure periods:

Over the past 18 months, since six monthly disclosure was introduced in NSW, the NSW Coalition has suffered a downward trend in donations.  NSW Labor suffered a dip in the first half of this year but has managed to regain some lost ground.

2.  The Biggest Donors