Trust in Australian democracy has more than halved over the lastdecade, from 86% in 2007 to 41% in 2018. Part of this erosion of trust stemsfrom a belief that big business has too much power. Community concerns havesparked major campaigns for a federal anti-corruption body and politicaldonations reform. People are concerned that politicians are privileging theconcerns of their mates in big business over the community or the public good.

This book sets out to test the evidence for these public fears,considering mining companies and the mining tax; the banks and the financialadvice scandals; Telstra and the NBN; News Ltd and media reform; Coles andWoolies versus the farmers; and attempts by government to reform contract lawsand laws on the abuse of market power. It asks if the major corporates aredisproportionately winning in our political debates? And if so, why?