The political donations are really small potatoes, not an issue...

The political donations are really small potatoes, not an issue in terms of expenditure - not that anyone is saying that, I’m just making that point.

From an ethical investment standpoint I do see a problem with it. Politics - like religion will always polarise people and imagine if MAQ was donating to the Catholic Church or chipping in funds to help with the legal costs of George Pell! I’m not suggesting this is the case, but donating to a political party which holds specific and sometimes polarising social/moral/ethical viewpoints isn’t a great way for shareholder dollars to be spent.

On the one hand, if MAQ are making donations to the federal or even a state Liberal Party (which it appears they are) I would personally have a bit of issue with that from an ethical & moral standpoint as I find some of their policies and behaviour to lack humanity and at times to be unethical. Just my opinion on that & I accept others will disagree but it doesn’t seem like a great way to spend company money.

Additionally, if MAQ are also donating money to the state or federal ALP (which it appears they are), it suggests there is in fact no alignment with the policies or ethos of the political parties. Rather it points to obvious pork-barreling - donations made in self interest.

Now... I’m all for self interest to an extent & we are all here to make money for ourselves. But I’m dead against corruption and/or unethical practice so the nature of these donations do raise an ethical red flag for me.

I won’t be selling on this red flag, but I’ll be keeping an eye out for any others that might be lurking in the shadows.