Political Donations WA
by WA Senator Andrew Murray (Australian Democrats Senator)
  

Commonwealth and Western Australian Funding and Disclosure Requirements


« Back to Issues

Commonwealth
Date of return Annual returns

Parties: by 20 October (*see note at end of table)

  • returns are available for public inspection from the first working day in February of the following year.

Third parties: by 17 November (see 'disclosure requirements' below for who falls into this category)

Election returns

Candidates and Senate groups: 15 weeks after polling day

  • returns are available for public inspection 24 weeks after polling day.

Third parties (donations to candidates and members of Senate groups): 15 weeks after polling day (see 'disclosure requirements' below for who falls into this category).

Disclosure period Annual returns

the financial year (1 July-30 June)

Election returns

for candidates:

  • those who have stood previously for a federal election or by-election: from 31 days after the last election contested to 30 days after polling day.
  • for new candidates endorsed by a party: from the day of endorsement by the party to 30 days after polling day
  • for new candidates standing as independents: from the day her or his candidacy was declared to 30 days after polling day
  • for new candidates who have not stood at an election, but who have been appointed to a casual Senate vacancy: from the day of appointment to 30 days after polling day

for Senate groups:

  • from the day the claim to be grouped is made to the AEC to 30 days after polling day

for third parties making donations at the levels given below, or receiving donations to incur expenditure for political purposes at the levels given below:

  • from 31 days after the previous election to 30 days after polling day
  • for third parties incurring election expenditure:
  • from the issue of the writ for the election to the close of polling
Donations Anonymous Anonymous donations over certain amounts are prohibited:
  • candidates = $200 or more from the same source
  • groups = $1000 or more from the same source
  Disclosure requirements Annual returns
Parties and associated entities must show:
  • all receipts, payments and debts
  • the names and addresses of those who reach a $1500 threshold for receipts or debts
  • the source, terms and conditions of loans of $1500 or more from other than a recognised financial institution
Donors to political parties must give details of the donations they made, including donations made to another person or organisation with the intention of benefiting a political party, where the total is $1500 or more.
  • all donations, including those of less than $1500 must be counted when determining whether the $1500 threshold has been met
  • donors must disclose donations they have received of $1000 or more that they used to make their donation
Election returns
Candidates and Senate groups (unendorsed and those endorsed by more than one registered political party) must disclose:
  • the total value of donations received (both cash donations and 'gifts-in-kind') and the number of donors
  • for each gift of $200 or more to a candidate and $1000 or more to a Senate group, the date on which each gift was made, the amount or value of the gift and the name and address of the donor. (Personal gifts such as Christmas and birthday presents need not be disclosed.)
Third parties (individuals and organisations/lobby groups) must disclose:
  • donations totalling $200 or more to a candidate (including a member of a Senate group)
  • donations totalling $1000 or more made to a person or organisation specified by the AEC in the Gazette
    • Note: donations totalling $1500 or more made to a registered political party are covered in annual returns
  • donations they have received of $1000 or more that they used to incur expenditure of $1000 or more for a political purpose, or used as reimbursement for incurring such expenditure
  • the name and address of the donor, the date of the donation, and the full value of the donation
Election Expenditure Limits None.
  Disclosure requirements Candidates and Senate groups (unendorsed and those endorsed by more than one registered political party) must disclose electoral expenditure incurred, including the costs of advertisements (those broadcast, published and displayed), campaign materials, direct mailing, and opinion polling.

Third parties (individuals and organisations/lobby groups) who take part in an election campaign are required to lodge an election return where $200 or more of election expenditure is incurred.

Broadcasters and publishers are required to file returns within eight weeks of polling day giving details of electoral advertising broadcast and published.
Public funding Funding is available to registered political parties that receive at least 4% of first-preference votes.

The amount payable is calculated by multiplying the number of votes received by the rate applicable at the time (which is indexed to the consumer price index). The rate for 1 July-30 December 2005, is 191.73 cents per eligible vote.

*NOTE: When the funding and disclosure scheme was introduced, parties were required to file election returns; in 1992, the legislation was amended so that parties had to file annual returns; in 1995, an amendment reintroduced election returns for parties; in 1998, yet another amendment reverted to parties filing annual returns only (i.e. not both).


Western Australia
Date of return Annual returns: by November 30 each year.

returns are available for public viewing at the commission's office from the first working date after December 28.

Election returns: within 15 weeks after polling day.

returns are available for public viewing at the commission's office from 19 weeks after polling day.
Period of disclosure Annual returns: the financial year (1 July-30 June).

Election returns: Where the candidate contested a previous election (any time in the five years before the current election), the disclosure period runs from 30 days after polling day for that election and ends 30 days after polling day for the current election.

Where the candidate has not contested a previous election, the disclosure period runs from one year before the day the person nominated for the current election and ends 30 days after polling day for the current election.

For groups, the period runs from the time candidates in the group make the application for grouping to 30 days after the current election. For other persons, the period runs from 30 days after the last previous election to 30 days after the current election.
Donations Anonymous Anonymous donations (from persons or groups) of $1600* or more are prohibited.
  Disclosure requirements All political parties and associated entities must lodge annual returns disclosing all gifts and other income received for the previous financial year. Candidates and groups must lodge election returns disclosing gifts and other income (see 'Election expenditure: disclosure requirements' below).

The details required for gifts of $1600* or more include the name and address of the person (or source) who made the gift.
Election expenditure Limits None
  Disclosure requirements All parties, candidates and groups are required to file an election return. Other persons may also be required to file and election return. There are different disclosure requirements for each category:
  • political parties have to disclose only 'electoral expenditure' incurred in relation to an election as they disclose gifts and other income in their annual returns
  • candidates must disclose all gifts received and 'electoral expenditure' incurred in relation to an election
  • persons other than political parties, associated entities, candidates and groups who incur more than $1600 of expenditure for a political purpose are required to disclose all gifts received and 'electoral expenditure' of $500 or more incurred during the disclosure period for an election (see above).
The definition of 'election expenditure' covers eight broadly defined categories and includes the production and distribution of mail-outs.
Public funding None

*Note: The Electoral Commissioner has the power to determine, as soon as practicable after polling day, whether the specified amount should increase. This is achieved by means of a formula that takes into account consumer price index increases. The original amount of $1500 was increased after the February 2001 election, and the new rate came into effect on 1 July 2001.

Document last updated on: 15:59 20th Dec 2005.