Tasmania’s deputy premier Lara Giddings alleged in federal parliament this week that there were many “serious and unwanted questions” about the donation to the party in the lead up to the 2007 federal election.

The Tasmanian Attorney-General claimed the donation came from a company known as Gladneys – of which Ms Russell and her partner Greg Hall are directors.

Ms Giddings questioned whether the names of the donors had been “disguised”.

But Ms Russell said there had been no attempts to “hide the fact” they had made the donation to The Greens’ leader Bob Brown.

“It’s just complete fantasy,” she said.

“It’s disgusting, really, that the ALP and the government can get away with making such allegations when the sources of funding for the big political parties are so lacking in transparency.”

Ms Russell said the $45,000 had come from an unexpected inheritance.

“We could have invested it in the stock market but we thought an investment in The Greens was an investment in our future,” she said.

Ms Russell said they chose to donate the money to Mr Brown rather than use it in her own campaign for the seat of Lyne because the Senate outcome was “of vital importance”.

“It was absolutely vital that Bob Brown get re-elected and that The Greens have the funds at that national level to wage a profession campaign,” she said.

“My own campaign we were able to run quite effectively for the circumstances.”

In federal parliament on Wednesday, Mr Brown, during debate on the Commonwealth Electoral Amendment (Political Donations and Other Measures) Bill 2008 [2009], described Ms Russell and Mr Hall as committed forest campaigners.

“They put forward what for individuals is a large amount of money to help save Tasmania’s forests,” he said.