Trust in Australia democracy has more than halved over the last decade, falling from 86% in 2007 to 41% in 2018. Part of this erosion of trust stems from a belief that big business has too much power. Community concerns have sparked campaigns for a federal anti-corruption body and political donations reform. This book sets out to test the evidence for these public fears. It asks it the major corporates are disproportionately winning in our political debates, and if so, why? This unflinching and meticulous analysis uncovers many unexpected twists and turns that will surprise even the most hardened political analysts. A lot of conventional wisdom is turned on its head, as the realities of Australia s democracy take shape.