Some of Australia’s biggest thinktanks refuse to reveal their biggest donors. Should they?

Several raise concerns that disclosing their donors exposes them to political attack but others warn not doing so can prompt legitimate questions about influence

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Australia’s biggest thinktanks are deeply divided on whether disclosing their financial backers is in the public interest, with several raising concerns that efforts to keep them secret may be undermining trust in the sector.

Three influential policy groups that together receive almost $20m in donations a year refuse to reveal their key donors, including those whose commercial interests may overlap with their public advocacy campaigns.