Newly amended disclosure returns show Territory Alliance raised more than three quarters of a million dollars during its disastrous 2020 NT election campaign – more than the now Opposition CLP did – with the bulk of that coming from leader Terry Mills’ newly amended donation of $366,000, the NT Electoral Commission reported.

The released campaign expenditure figures show the NT’s political parties spent a combined $2.07 million on their respective election campaigns.

According to the filed expenditure returns, the CLP was the only party to spend more on the campaign than they raised, splurging $670,608 mostly on election advertising, while raking in $636,076 from 235 donors.

NT Labor meanwhile raised just over $850,000 through 1515 donors, according to its disclosures, and reportedly spent $740,000 on its campaign – including nearly $617,000 on advertising.

Territory Alliance spent the most on polling at $41,000, raising a combined $737,000 from 318 donors. The disclosures show the party spent just over $614,000 on their campaign, including $421,000 on advertising.

Labor spent $12,000 on polling, while the CLP spent $28,000.

The massive $366,000 personal donation by Mr Mills to his party was amended from an earlier disclosure released a little over a week ago that stated he had donated $200,000. Party sources had told the NT Independent that Mr Mills had donated the large amount as part of a personal guarantee during the campaign, in an effort to make peace with some disgruntled members, to cover the costs of the party’s campaign director and pollster James Lantry.

The party last week severed ties with their only elected member Robyn Lambley, who donated $8,500 personally to the party and another $14,400 through her business Mad Harry’s, disclosures reveal.

The figures also show Labor’s donations came from developers, gambling agencies, unions, elected members and those closely aligned with the party, including long-serving staffer Chris Grace and newly appointed “parliamentary liaison officer” Kent Rowe kicking in $2400 and $3700 respectively – more than some elected Labor MLAs.

Mr Rowe was working for local marketing firm Sprout at the time of his donation but was recently appointed to the taxpayer-funded position in a recent shakeup of fifth floor staffers that saw many advisors sacked. He has been credited internally for his work on Labor’s successful re-election campaign while also employed by Sprout.

Purick discloses her re-election campaign only cost $2400

The new expenditure disclosures also show that former speaker Kezia Purick, who retained her seat of Goyder despite a 23 per cent swing against her, claimed to have raised no money from donations but reported spending $2,367 on her campaign.

According to the rules set out by the Remuneration Tribunal, sitting members of Parliament can spend their electorate allowance however they see fit so long as they satisfy the ATO.

Ms Purick’s fellow rural independent candidate and close friend Beverely Ratahi raised only $500 from one donation, but spent more than $15,000 in her failed attempt to win the seat of Nelson, she reported to the NTEC.

By comparison, independent candidate Yingiya Mark Guyula raised a reported $25,000 and spent $6200 on advertising and mailouts during the campaign. His office said the rest of the money was spent on charter flights around the electorate.

Perennial independent candidate, and local Rubbish Warrior, Trevor Jenkins, who ran against Ms Purick in Goyder this year, disclosed that he raised $70 from six donors. Because those donors did not surpass the threshold for disclosure, their names were not revealed.

Mr Jenkins reported to the NTEC that he spent $65 on his campaign, which included $8 on advertising, $45 on printing material and $11 on “direct mailing”. He received 64 votes for his efforts.

Eleven independent candidates yet to disclose, while ‘compliance review’ to take place soon: NTEC