Independent MP Zali Steggall has defended receiving a $100,000 donation from RAMS home loan founder and former coal investor John Kinghorn and his family.
Ms Steggall received, but did not declare, eight individual "pledges" from the Kinghorn family's trust in the lead-up to the 2019 election, in which she defeated former prime minister Tony Abbott in the seat of Warrigah.
Each pledge was below the $13,800 threshold above which donations have to be declared.
But according to a review by the Australian Electoral Commission, first reported in the Nine newspapers, Ms Steggall only received one cheque from the Kinghorn Family Trust.
"Notwithstanding the donation consisted of eight individual pledges, one cheque of $100,000 was given to Warringah Independent Ltd from The Kinghorn Family Trust," it said.
"Under the Electoral Act, the details of individual receipts exceeding the threshold must be disclosed in the annual disclosure return."
In January last year, Ms Steggall's office updated its disclosure to include the $100,000 donation.
"I received eight individual pledges from a large family living in my electorate. The AEC later considered it to be one single donation, so the return was amended in 2021 to reflect that," she said.
"The money donated was at all times disclosed."
Mr Kinghorn is best known as the founder of RAMS home loans, but also served as a director for both Cascade Coal and Felix Resources.
Ms Steggall has been outspoken about the need to reduce emissions from fossil fuels and adopt green alternatives.
"It is important that we redirect the kind of profits that have been made from non-renewable resources into solutions for the climate problem.
"People are allowed to move on from fossil fuel investing and I don't think anyone should be discouraged from doing so."
'Unacceptable' behaviour, Liberal MP says
Liberal MP Tim Wilson accused Ms Steggall of being a hypocrite and said it appeared the Kinghorn donors had deliberately split donations so they would fall below the disclosure threshold.
"On the face of it this is the sort of conduct that is deeply unacceptable, raises serious issues of integrity and frankly absolute hypocrisy," he said.
Ms Steggall said she supported increased transparency around donations.
"Including the lowering of donation reporting thresholds, real-time donation reporting, caps on donations and caps on campaign spending," she said.
"My call for reform is evidenced by my support for and seconding of a number of private members bills and amendments on campaign spending."
