Parties and Candidates

Details

In accordance with Part 13A of the Electoral Act 1985, the Electoral Commissioner is legally required to publish all disclosure returns submitted by political parties, candidates, associated entities, third parties, and donors. These returns provide transparency around political funding and expenditure, helping to uphold the integrity of South Australia's electoral system.

Return period: 1 January 2024 onwards

Returns can be viewed on the current funding and disclosure portal.


Return period: 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2023 (FAD Portal)

Returns can be viewed on the archived funding and disclosure portal or as set out below:


Return period: 1 July 2022 to 31 December 2022

Associated entity
Political party

Return period: 19 April 2022 to 30 June 2022

Associated entity
Political party

Return period: 1 January 2017 to 30 June 2017

Associated entity
Donor
Political party

Return period: 1 July 2016 to 31 December 2016

Associated entity
Donor
Political party

Political expenditure returns: 2016-2017

You can also inspect returns by appointment.

Details

Under the provisions of section 130A(9) of the Electoral Act 1985 , if a monetary amount is followed by the word ‘2026 indexed’, the amount is adjusted on 1 July each financial year.

The table below contains the indexed values for the financial year 2025-26.

Amounts in the Electoral Act 1985
(subject to indexation)		 2025–26 financial year indexed amounts
2026 indexed (effective 1 July 2025)

$5.50

$5.50

$6.00

$6.00

$8.50

$8.50

$9.00

$9.00

$250

$250

$2,500

$2,500

$5,000

$5,000

$20,000

$20,000

$40,000

$40,000

$50,000

$50,000

$55,000

$55,000

$60,000

$60,000

$75,000

$75,000

$85,000

$85,000

$100,000

$100,000

$125,000

$125,000

$245,000

$245,000

$450,000

$450,000

$500,000

$500,000

$800,000

$800,000

 

 

Details

Registers maintained by the Electoral Commissioner
Under the Electoral Act 1985 (the Act), the Electoral Commissioner is responsible for maintaining several official registers. These registers promote transparency and accountability in electoral processes and ensure compliance with the Act.

Agents
This register records the names and addresses of all appointed agents. Each entry is conclusive evidence of appointment under the Act. Removal may occur due to resignation, termination, or conviction.

Nominated entities
This register lists each nominated entity, including its name, address, associated political party, and any other details required by regulation. It must be published on the Electoral Commission’s website.

Political parties
This register contains all political parties registered under the Act. It is available for public inspection, free of charge, during ordinary office hours at the Electoral Commissioner’s principal office.

Third parties
This register lists all third parties registered under Division 8A of the Act. It must be published on the Electoral Commission’s website.

Details

Live Local. Lead Local.

Make your mark. Council elections are your opportunity to represent your community.

As a council member, you can help create a future that you and your community can be proud of and enjoy. If you are passionate about your local community, willing to work as part of a team, keen to learn and make a difference, nominate for a position on council. In South Australia, whole of state council elections (called periodic elections) are held every 4 years for all 68 councils except the Municipal Council of Roxby Downs, which operates under its own administration. The next periodic council elections will take place in November 2026.

If an elected position on a council becomes vacant between periodic elections, ECSA may conduct a supplementary election. A vacancy can occur due to death, illness, resignation, or any other circumstances.

Acts and Regulations

The rules that govern council elections are set out in:

The Acts and Regulations should be read in conjunction with the Local Government Act 1999.

Candidate eligibility and ineligibility


You are eligible to be a candidate for election as a member of a council if you are:

  • an Australian citizen
  • at the time the electoral roll closes:
    • enrolled in the council area you are contesting, or
    • the nominee of a body corporate or a group that has its name on the voters roll for the council area
    • left off the voters roll for the council area in error.

You are not eligible to be a candidate for election as a member of a council if you are:

  • a member of an Australian Parliament; or
  • an undischarged bankrupt or receiving the benefit of a law for the relief of insolvent debtors; or
  • have been sentenced to imprisonment and are, or could on the happening of some contingency become, liable to serve the sentence or the remainder of the sentence; or
  • are an employee of the council; or
  • are disqualified from election by court order under the Local Government Act 1999.

You are not eligible to be a candidate for election as a member of a council if you:

  • in the case of a supplementary election - are a member of another council; or
  • in the case of any election - are a candidate for election as a member of another council

Candidate disclosure returns

A person who is a candidate for election to an office of a council must lodge the following returns with the Electoral Commissioner:

  • A candidate in a Local Government Election, you are required to lodge two campaign donation returns at the times prescribed by the Local Government (Elections) Act 1999
  • A candidate that receives a gift valued at more than $2,500 (or gifts totalling $2,500 from the same donor) must submit a large gift return within 5 days of receipt of that gift

More information about candidate disclosure returns for recent elections can be accessed via the candidate returns for council elections page.

Candidate responsibilities

As a candidate, you have a range of important responsibilities and obligations under the law. These include making sure all electoral material you publish contains the proper authorisation statement, and that the material is not inaccurate and misleading. All candidates, whether successful or not, must lodge disclosure returns. 

Responsibilities as a member of a council

Councils are responsible for many of the services that make South Australia such a great place to live and work, including libraries, playgrounds, sporting facilities and rubbish and recycling. Becoming a councillor or mayor means you will help shape a wide range of policies and decisions that will impact the short and long-term future of your local community. More information can be found on the council elections website (this link goes to an external website).

Electoral advertising

There are restrictions placed on advertising during, and outside of, an election period. These are contained within Part 7 of the Local Government (Elections) Act 1999. The Electoral Commission SA is unable to provide advice on the interpretation of these provisions. Therefore, if you are in doubt about the interpretation, we recommend you seek independent legal advice.

Learn more on our electoral advertising page.

Forms and handbooks


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