the AEC never claimed get up was independent  they claimed there...

the AEC never claimed get up was independent 
they claimed there was not evidence to prove beyond all reasonable doubt that get up is aligned to a party 

this would also mean that a foreign funded pro-coal organisation is not aligned with the liberal party.  It is just against environmental regulations. 

in a pragmatic sense the AEC did the right thing.  It's too hard to police every cent and act of political funding when it can be done in countless ways.  Unless a group is obviously in favour of only one party, it should be okay. 

so if someone has a vote card showing who will tax you more, that would be independent enough too.