Special assistance funding (2)

Special assistance funding is a form of public funding under Division 5 of the Electoral Act 1985. 

It is available to be paid as a half yearly entitlement to eligible registered political parties who claim reimbursement of administrative expenditure.

Registered political parties must meet the following eligibility criteria to receive special assistance funding:

  • At least 1 member of the party must have been a member of the Parliament of South Australia for all or part of the half-yearly period; and
  • The party must have been a registered political party on polling day for the last preceding general election and continued to be registered for all of the half-yearly period; and
  • The agent of the party submitted a valid claim to the Electoral Commissioner setting out the administrative expenditure incurred by the party during that half-yearly period.

Special assistance funding claims under Division 5 are limited to the following maximum amounts:

  • For a party with 5 or fewer members of Parliament - $35,000 (indexed)
  • For a party with 6 or more members of Parliament - $60,000 (indexed)

Since Part 13A came into effect, the Electoral Commissioner has paid the amounts shown in the table below for special assistance funding claims.

  Australian Labor Party Liberal Party The Greens SA Best Advance SA* Dignity Party** Family First^ Australian Conservatives^^ Pauline Hanson's One Nation
Date $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $
1/07/24 - 31/12/24 78,840.00 78,840.00 45,990.00 35,356.67 - - - - 15,176.61
1/01/24 - 30/06/24 75,586.00 75,586.00 44,092.00 37,773.10 - - - - 17,748.43
1/07/23 - 31/12/23 75,586.00 75,586.00 44,092.00 36,780.61 - - - - 15,387.59
1/01/23 - 30/06/23 70,048.00 70,048.00 40,862.00 36,601.34 - - - - 20,045.00
1/07/22 - 31/12/22 70,048.00 70,048.00 40,862.00 35,993.43 - - - - 11,122.39
1/01/22 - 30/06/22 66,908.00 66,908.00 39,030.00 27,901.55 - - - - -
1/07/21 - 31/12/21 66,908.00 66,908.00 39,030.00 39,030.00 - - - - -
1/01/21 - 30/06/21 66,109.00 66,109.00 38,564.00 38,564.00 - - - - -
1/07/20 - 31/12/20 66,109.00 66,109.00 38,564.00 29,071.53 - - - - -
1/01/20 - 30/06/20 64,568.00 64,568.00 37,665.00 37,665.00 - - - - -
1/07/19 - 31/12/19 64,568.00 64,568.00 37,665.00 37,665.00 952.04 - -; - -
1/01/19 - 30/06/19 63,711.00 63,711.00 37,165.00 37,165.00 219.24 - - - -
1/07/18 - 31/12/18 63,711.00 63,711.00 37,165.00 37,165.00 - - - - -
1/01/18 - 30/06/18 62,283.00 62,283.00 36.333.00 - - - - 36,333.00 -
1/07/17 - 31/12/17 62,283.00 62,283.00 36,333.00 - - 36,333.00 - - -
1/01/17 - 30/06/17 60,000.00 60,000.00 35,000.00 - - 29,672.00 - - -
1/07/16 - 31/12/16 12,217.00 12,217.00 7,127.00 - - 7,127.00 6,218.39 - -
1/01/16 - 30/06/16 12,217.00 12,217.00 7,127.00 - - 7,127.00 4,403.19 - -
1/07/15 - 31/12/15 12,137.00 12,137.00 7,080.00 - - 7,080.00 825.00 - -
Total 1,113,837.00 1,113,837.00 613,413.00 466,732.23 1,171.28 87,339.00 11,446.58 36,333.00 79,480.02
Special assistance paid to date: $3,523,589.11
* deregistered 25 August 2022
** deregistered 28 November 2019
^ deregistered 27 June 2017 (n.b. a new party called Family First Party Inc. was registered on 13 January 2022)
^^ deregistered 27 June 2019

 

One-off special assistance funding

Section 130UA was inserted into the Electoral Act 1985 on 9 June 2017 and expired on 31 August 2017. This section permitted eligible registered political parties to claim a one-off payment of special assistance funding for prescribed administrative expenditure for the purpose of complying with Part 13A of the Act.

Eligible registered political parties who wished to make a claim were required to submit a claim in writing to the Electoral Commissioner by 31 July 2017.  This section limited the claim to the following maximum amounts:

  • For parties with 5 or fewer members of Parliament - $56,000
  • For parties with 6 or more members of Parliament - $96,000

The Electoral Commissioner paid the amounts shown in the table below for one-off special assistance payment in 2017. These payments were in addition to any entitlements to half yearly payments of special assistance funding paid under Division 5 of the Act.

Party Claim
Australian Labor Party $96,000.00
Liberal Party $96,000.00
The Greens $10,013.79
Dignity Party $43,861.44
Total $245,875.23

Glossary

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

The descriptions of terms in this glossary are for quick reference only. This glossary is not to be substituted for the formal definitions found within the legislation. Refer to Part 13A of the Electoral Act 1985.

ACNC registered entity
Any organisation that is registered under the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Act 2012 (Cth).

Administrative expenditure
Administrative expenditure is defined under section 130A as:

  • Any expenditure related to the administration, operation, or management of a registered political party (whether in relation to state activities of the party or otherwise); or
  • The administrative or operational expenditure of a non-party member.

Agent
Agent is defined as a person who is responsible for ensuring that a registered political party, candidate, group of candidates, third party, or associated entity complies with its funding and disclosure obligations.

An agent must:

  • Be a natural person who is at least 18 years of age.
  • Not have been convicted of a prescribed offence under:
  • Be formally appointed in accordance with the requirements of section 130G(3).

Applicable expenditure cap
The maximum amount of political expenditure a person or entity is permitted to incur during the capped expenditure period for an election.

The cap varies depending on who is incurring the expenditure:

  • Registered political parties:
    • Up to $500,000 if endorsing candidates only in the Legislative Council.
    • For House of Assembly elections, the cap is based on the number of districts in which candidates are endorsed, plus certain additional amounts for Legislative Council candidates.
  • House of Assembly candidates:
    • Party-endorsed candidates are capped at an amount allocated by their party (up to $100,000, or $40,000 if not agreed).
    • Independent candidates are capped at $100,000.
  • Legislative Council candidates/groups:
    • Independent candidates: $125,000.
    • Groups of independents: $100,000 multiplied by the number of members (maximum of 5).
    • Party-endorsed Legislative Council candidates do not have their own cap—the party’s cap applies.
  • Third parties:
    • $450,000 for a general election.
    • $60,000 for a single House of Assembly by-election.

All amounts are 2026 indexed.
Reference: See section 130Z of the Electoral Act for more information.

Appointing person or body
The registered political party, candidate, group, or third party that appoints a person to act as its agent.

Associated entity
An associated entity, as defined under section 130A, is an entity that has any of the following relationships with a registered political party:

  • It is controlled by one or more registered political parties.
  • It operates to a significant extent for the benefit of one or more registered political parties.
  • It is a financial member of, or on whose behalf another person is a financial member of, a registered political party.
  • It has voting rights in, or on whose behalf another person has voting rights in, a registered political party.

Auditor
A person who:

  • Has the necessary qualifications or experience; and
  • Has not been a member of a registered political party at any time in the past 10 years.

Back to top 

Campaign donations return
A report that must be lodged with the Electoral Commissioner by the agent of each entitled candidate or entitled group in an election, at the prescribed times and in a form approved by the Commissioner. 

The return must include:

  • For donations or loans over $1,000 – prescribed details of each donation or loan received during the disclosure period.
  • For other donations or loans – the total value received and the number of donors or lenders.

A return does not need to include details of a donation or loan if it was given to a candidate in a private capacity for personal use and is not used for election purposes.

Capped expenditure period
The capped expenditure period is defined as:

  • For a general election: from 1 July in the year before the election until 30 days after polling day.
  • For all other elections: from the day the vacancy is announced by, or on behalf of, the Speaker of the House of Assembly until 30 days after polling day.

Applicable expenditure caps are set out in section 130Z of the Electoral Act 1985.

CPI
Consumer Price Index

The All Groups Consumer Price Index (CPI) for Adelaide is published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). It measures inflation, which reflects how the overall cost of living for households in Adelaide changes over time.

Back to top 

Designated participant
A person or entity that is eligible to receive and spend electoral funding. A designated participant can be:

  • an entitled registered political party
  • an entitled candidate
  • an entitled group, or
  • a third party.

Designated period
For a general election: the period starting on 1 January in the year of the election and ending 30 days after polling day; or

For any other election: the period starting on the day the vacancy is announced in the House of Assembly by (or on behalf of) the Speaker and ending 30 days after polling day.

Disclosure period
The disclosure period in section 130ZF(5)(a) is the time frame in which donations or loans must be reported in a campaign donations return.

It varies depending on whether the person is a new candidate, an existing candidate, or an entitled group:

  • New candidate
    • Starts: the earlier of
      • the day the person announced they would be a candidate, or
      • the day they were formally nominated.
    • Ends: 30 days after polling day for the election.
  • Not a new candidate (stood in the previous election)
    • Starts: 30 days after polling day for the last election in which they were a candidate.
    • Ends: 30 days after polling day for the current election.
  • Entitled group
    • Starts: the day the members of the group applied under section 58 to have their names grouped on the ballot paper.
    • Ends: 30 days after polling day for the election.

The disclosure period for all candidates (and groups) will end 30 days after polling day for the election.

Disposition of property
Any conveyance, transfer, assignment, settlement, delivery, payment or other alienation of property.

It includes:

  • the allotment of shares in a company.
  • creating a trust in property.
  • granting or creating a lease, mortgage, charge, easement, licence, power, partnership, or other interest in property.
  • releasing, discharging, surrendering, forfeiting, or abandoning (at law or equity) a debt, contract, right of action, or interest in property.
  • exercising a general power of appointment of property in favour of another person.
  • any transaction intended to reduce the value of a person’s own property and increase the value of another’s property.

Donation
A donation is anything of value given to a person, candidate, group, or party, without full payment in return (or for less than its real value).

It includes:

  • Money, goods or property given without full payment in return
  • Services provided for free or below cost (but not voluntary labour or unpaid professional services)
  • Party membership or affiliation fees (over $250 per year)
  • Transfers of property from a political party, party branch, or associated entity
  • Payments for guarantees
  • Payments to attend fundraising events

It does not include:

  • Party membership fees of $250 or less per year
  • Levies paid as part of party membership
  • Public funding payments under the Electoral Act
  • Electorate allowances, expenses or benefits set by the Remuneration Tribunal
  • Parliamentary allowances and benefits under the Parliamentary Remuneration Act 1990
  • Transfers from a political party to its nominated entity
  • Free broadcasting services provided by non-commercial broadcasters
  • Commercial payments (e.g. interest, dividends)
  • Event/function payments that only cover actual costs (venue, food, drinks)

Back to top 

Electoral donation
Any donation made to a registered political party, group, candidate, member of parliament, or third party that is used, or intended to be used, for state electoral purposes or to incur political expenditure.

Key points:

  • Donations to a party from its nominated entities that are used only for administrative purposes are not electoral donations.
  • Donations can include money or property provided to reimburse, enable, or contribute toward electoral activities.
  • If a donation is initially not for electoral purposes but is later used for them, it becomes an electoral donation.
  • Minor incidental expenses (like meals or entry tickets at events) or the use of a venue by a member or candidate without charge or for inadequate consideration are not treated as electoral donations.
  • Donations to an associated entity are generally treated as donations to the related party, subject to certain exceptions for bequests or intra-party property transfers.

Reference: See section 130ZCB of the Electoral Act for more information.

Electoral loan
An electoral loan is any loan used to support election campaigns or political work. Even if it wasn’t originally meant for that, once the money is used for campaigning, it becomes an electoral loan.

Eligible vote
A first preference vote on a formal ballot paper in an election.

Entitled candidate
An independent candidate (not endorsed by a party) who is not already a sitting member of Parliament when the election is called.

Entitled group
A group of independent candidates running together in an election.

  • They cannot include any candidate endorsed by a registered political party.
  • They also cannot include a candidate who was already a sitting member of parliament when the election was called.

Entitled registered political party
A political party that is formally registered under the Electoral Act but does not have any members who are sitting MPs.

This also excludes a party where, in relation to an election:

  • one or more members were MPs at the time of the dissolution of parliament (general election), or
  • one or more members were MPs at the time of the vacancy that caused a by-election.

Entity
An entity is any organisation, group, or trust.

Expenditure caps
Limitations on political expenditure apply to:

  • A registered political party
  • A candidate
  • A group; or
  • A third party.

Back to top 

Financial controller
In relation to an entity, means:

  • (a) if the entity is a company: the secretary of the company
  • (b) if the entity is the trustee of a trust: the trustee
  • (c) in other cases: the person responsbile for maintaining the financial records of the entity.

Financial institution
A body that provides financial services or financial products and is either:

  • an Authorised Deposit-taking Institution (ADI), such as a bank, building society, or credit union; or
  • another body prescribed by the regulations.

Financial member
A person who either pays membership fees to a political party or is recognised as a financial member under the party’s rules.

Foreign entity
Any person or organisation that meets one or more of the following:

  • A body politic of a foreign country or part of a foreign country.
  • A part of a body politic described above.
  • A foreign public enterprise as defined in section 70.1 of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth).
  • A body (incorporated or unincorporated) that does not meet all these conditions:
    • Incorporated in Australia
    • Head office in Australia
    • Principal place of activity in Australia
  • An individual who is none of the following:
    • An elector in Australia
    • An Australian citizen
    • An Australian resident
    • A New Zealand citizen holding a Subclass 444 (Special Category) visa (or its replacement if the subclass ceases to exist).
Back to top 

General donations cap
The maximum amount of donations that a relevant regulated designated participant may receive for an election.

  • The donations cap equals the participant’s applicable expenditure cap.
  • This ensures that donations are proportionate to allowable campaign spending.

General loans cap
The maximum amount of loans a relevant regulated designated participant can incur in relation to an election.

For a relevant regulated designated participant, the general loans cap is equal to their applicable expenditure cap for that election.

Group
A group means 2 or more candidates who are nominated for election to the Legislative Council and who have applied under section 58 of the Electoral Act to have their names shown together in a column on the ballot paper.

Back to top 

Indexed amount
An indexed amount under the Electoral Act 1985 refers to a monetary figure in the legislation that is automatically adjusted each financial year to reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index (CPI). These adjustments occur annually on 1 July. Indexed amounts ensure that financial thresholds in the Act (such as donation limits or penalties) maintain their real value over time by accounting for inflation.

Back to top 

Loan
An advance of money, credit, or other financial help that must be repaid, except if it comes from a financial institution or from a political party to its own nominated entity.

Note: Loans from banks and similar institutions are not considered electoral loans.

New candidate
A person standing for election who has not been a candidate in a previous election within a set time frame:

  • House of Assembly election: not a candidate in the last 5 years
  • Legislative Council election: not a candidate in the last 9 years

Refer to section 130ZF(5)(b) of the Electoral Act 1985.

Nominated entity
An organisation listed on the register of nominated entities as being linked to a registered political party.

Non-party member
A member of parliament who does not belong to a registered political party.

Back to top 

Political expenditure
Money spent to publicly promote views about parties, candidates, members of parliament, election issues, political material, or election-related research.

It does not include: GST, MP allowances/benefits, administration or policy development costs, normal staffing costs, or any other category the law specifically excludes.

Prescribed administrative expenditure
A one-off payment of administrative funding is available to certain non-party members and registered political parties to cover prescribed administrative expenditure incurred in complying with the Part 13A of the Electoral Act.

Eligibility:

  1. Non-party members:
    • Must be a member of parliament at the commencement of this section.
    • Their agent must submit a claim to the Electoral Commissioner detailing the prescribed administrative expenditure.
  2. Registered political parties:
    • Must be entitled to administrative funding under section 130U and have received a half-yearly entitlement payment.
    • Their agent must submit a claim to the Electoral Commissioner detailing the prescribed administrative expenditure.

What counts as prescribed administrative expenditure?

  • For non-party members: spending incurred before the prescribed date to comply with Part 13A (can be before or after commencement).
  • For registered political parties: same as above but does not include expenditure already claimed under section 130U(1)(c) for a half-yearly entitlement to special assistance funding.

Prescribed details
Specific pieces of information that must be recorded or disclosed in relation to a donation, loan, electoral donation, amount received, or debt incurred.

They generally include:

  1. Amount or value of the donation, loan, electoral donation, amount received, or debt.
  2. Date on which it was made, received, or incurred.
  3. Name and address of the person from whom it was received or to whom the debt is owed (where applicable).
  4. Any other details required by the regulations.

Prohibited period
For an election, in relation to a recontesting participant, the prohibited period is the time frame that:

  • Starts: at the beginning of the capped expenditure period for the participant in that election.
  • Ends: 30 days after polling day for the election.

Property
Includes money.

Back to top 

Recontesting participant
For an election, a recontesting participant is an entitled registered political party, entitled candidate, or entitled group that chooses to be treated as a recontesting participant by lodging a certificate under section 130PF for that election.

Registers maintained by the Electoral Commissioner
The Electoral Commissioner maintains several official registers under the Electoral Act.

Register of agents
Records the names and addresses of all appointed agents. Entries serve as conclusive evidence of appointment, with removal governed by resignation, termination, or conviction under the Electoral Act.

Register of nominated entities
A public list recording the name and address of each nominated entity, the political party it belongs to, and any other details required by regulation. The register must be published on the Electoral Commission’s website.

Register of political parties
Records all political parties registered in accordance with the Electoral Act. The register is available for public inspection, free of charge, during ordinary office hours at the principal office of the Electoral Commissioner.

Register of third parties
Lists all third parties registered under Division 8A of the Electoral Act. The register period begins when the capped expenditure period for an election starts. The register must be published on the Electoral Commission’s website.

Registered industrial organisation
An organisation registered under the Fair Work Act 1994 or under similar workplace/industrial relations laws of the Commonwealth, another state, or a territory.

Registered political party
A political party registered under Part 6 of the Electoral Act 1985.

To qualify for registration, a party must be an eligible political party, which means it is either:

  • a parliamentary party – a party with at least one member who is:
    • a Member of the Parliament of South Australia, or
    • a Senator for South Australia, or
    • a Member of the House of Representatives chosen in South Australia; or
  • a political party (not a parliamentary party) that has at least 200 members who are enrolled electors.

Regulated designated participant
A subset of designated participants who are subject to specific funding, disclosure, and expenditure cap rules. They include:

  • an entitled registered political party
  • an entitled candidate
  • an entitled group, or
  • a third party, other than an ACNC registered entity.

Relevant entity
A relevant entity is any of the following:

  • A registered political party
  • An associated entity
  • A third party (any person or organisation that is not a political party but is involved in activities relevant to the election).

Relevant regulated designated participant
A regulated designated participant that is subject to general donation caps linked to their campaign expenditure cap. These include:

  • an entitled registered political party
  • an entitled candidate, or
  • an entitled group.
    (Note: third parties are not included in this category for donation caps.)

Reference: See section 130ZCI of the Electoral Act for more information.

Back to top 

State campaign account
A separate bank account that a registered political party, candidate, group, or certain third parties must use solely for state election funds, recorded in a register maintained by the Electoral Commissioner.

👉 Learn more about state campaign account requirements.

Reference: Sections 130K, 130L and 130M of the Electoral Act 1985.

State electoral purposes
Activities related to state elections, but not federal or local government elections.

Back to top 

Third party
A third party is any person or organisation that is not:

  • A member of parliament (House of Assembly or Legislative Council)
  • The Crown, including public sector agencies
  • A registered political party, group, or candidate
  • A person engaged in a broadcasting or datacasting service
  • The publisher of a journal, including online journals

who either:

  • Incurs or intends to incur more than $10,000 in political expenditure during the designated period for an election, or
  • Incurred more than $10,000 in political expenditure during the designated period for the last preceding general election.

Total primary vote
The total number of eligible votes cast in favour of all candidates in an election by electors for the relevant electoral district. 

Back to top

Funding and disclosure - political parties

Overview

This section outlines the funding options available to registered political parties, including eligibility criteria and payment administration processes. Electoral funding payments are indexed annually in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

Key funding streams

Registered political parties may be eligible for:

  1. Public funding - including advance payments to support campaign activities
  2. Administrative expenditure funding - covering operational costs, with options for one-off payments
  3. Policy development funding - to assist in the formulation of party policies.

Electoral reforms

From 1 July 2025, the Electoral (Accountability and Integrity) Amendment Act 2024 introduced reforms to South Australia’s electoral framework to strengthen transparency, accountability, and integrity in electoral funding and political donations.

To support stakeholders, the Electoral Commission will provide ongoing guidance to assist participants in understanding their obligations under the new legislation; however, independent legal advice is encouraged.

Public funding

Purpose
To assist parties with costs associated with running a state election campaign or by-election.

Eligibility
Registered political parties are entitled to public funding under section 130P of the Electoral Act 1985 (the Act). Parties must have been registered for at least 8 months to receive funding.

Funding entitlement

  • Standard entitlement: Based on eligible votes per section 130P of the Act.
  • Tapered entitlement: For parties with no members of parliament.

Public funding for elections is calculated per eligible vote.

Party status Entitlement per eligible vote (2026 indexed)

With at least one member of parliament

$5.50 per vote (standard)

With no members of parliament

$6.00 per vote for the first 10% of votes, then $5.50 per vote (tapered)

Funding is limited to actual political expenditure. No payment will be made without satisfactory evidence of expenditure.

State campaign accounts

A state campaign account is a dedicated financial institution account that must be used by political participants in South Australian state elections to manage donations, public funding, and political expenditure. These accounts are required for candidates, groups, registered political parties, and third parties*.

* Third parties only need a state campaign account if they receive amounts that must be paid into one under the Act.

👉 See state campaign accounts for details.

Advance funding

Registered political parties may apply for advance funding before polling day by lodging a section 130PF certificate. Once lodged, the certificate cannot be withdrawn.

Advance funding is paid in instalments and calculated based on either:

  • Previous election results (notional amount), or
  • A legislated set amount (e.g. $2,500 per candidate – 2026 indexed)

Eligibility, payment structure, and repayment rules vary depending on:

  • Whether the party is recontesting
  • Whether endorsed candidates are current or former MPs
  • Whether the election is for the House of Assembly or Legislative Council

👉 For full details, see:

Administrative funding

Administrative funding (formerly known as special assistance funding) is a form of public funding provided under Division 5 of the Electoral Act 1985 (the Act). It is paid as a half-yearly entitlement to eligible registered political parties and independent members of parliament to assist with the reimbursement of administrative expenditure.

Prior to the amendments introduced by the Electoral (Accountability and Integrity) Amendment Act 2024, public funding provided under Division 5 of the Electoral Act was known as special assistance funding. 

👉 View historical special assistance funding.

Purpose

Registered political parties may be eligible to receive administrative funding. This funding is to cover administrative expenses including:

  • Administration, operation or management of the acitivites of the party
  • Communication with members of the party on administrative, operational or management matters
  • Conferences, seminars, meetings at which policies are discussed or formulated
  • Complying with the Act and auditing of financial accounts
  • Expenditure and remuneration of staff
  • Training of staff and volunteers
  • Equipment or vehicles whilst engaged in the matters referred to above
  • Office accommodation for staff and equipment.

Eligibility

  • Parties with one or more members in the South Australian Parliament (House of Assembly (HA) or Legislative Council (LC)).
    • The party must have been a registered political party on polling day for the last preceding general election.
    • It must have continued to be registered for the entire half-yearly period.
  • Parties with no members in either the HA or LC are not eligible. 

Use of funds

  • Must not be paid into the state campaign account
  • Must not be used for political or electoral expenditure.

How to apply

If eligible, the party agent must:

  1. Complete the administrative expenditure funding application form within 30 days of the end of the period.
  2. Return the completed form by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Funding amounts

Number of elected members Funding amount

1 member

$85,000

2 members

$245,000

Each additional member (beyond 2)

$55,000 (capped)

Maximum

$800,000

Payments are made twice a year (half-yearly) and are indexed annually in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI)

One-off payment

Purpose

  • Provides reimbursement for one-off costs including costs related to meeting funding and disclosure obligations.
  • Recognises that reforms may create additional administrative burden for parties eligible for administrative funding.

Availability

  • 1 July 2025 – 31 August 2026

How to claim

  • Paid on receipt of a one-off administrative funding claim form.

Funding limit

  • Up to a maximum of $200,000.

If you have already claimed administrative funding, you cannot claim the same expense as part of this one-off payment.

Repayment of funds

The Electoral Commissioner may require repayment of unspent administrative funding in the following circumstances:

  • The party ceases to operate or becomes unregistered
  • The party does not contest an election
  • The party’s status changes, for example if a non-party member joins the party.

Policy development funding

Policy development funding supports eligible registered political parties by reimbursing costs related to developing party policies. This funding is separate from campaign-related funding and is subject to specific eligibility and expenditure rules.

👉 See our policy development funding page for details.

Appointing an agent

Agents are appointed under the Electoral Act 1985 to manage funding and disclosure obligations for political parties, candidates, groups, and third parties. They are responsible for ensuring compliance with all legal requirements.

Learn more about agents

Administrative funding (formerly special assistance funding)

Administrative funding (formerly known as special assistance funding) is a form of public funding provided under Division 5 of the Electoral Act 1985. It is paid as a half-yearly entitlement to eligible registered political parties to assist with the reimbursement of administrative expenditure. 👉 Learn more about administrative funding. 

View historical special assistance funding claims since 2015.

Obligations of a registered political party

For more information, refer to Part 13A of the Electoral Act 1985.

Agents

A registered political party must appoint an agent. The agent is responsible for ensuring that the party meets its funding and disclosure obligations.

Learn more about agents.

Obligations

An agent of a registered political party must do the following:

  • Maintain a state campaign account and ensure all donations are deposited into that account and all political expenditure is paid from that account (sections 130K, 130L and 130N).
  • Ensure that administrative funding payment is not deposited into the state campaign account or used for political expenditure (section 130W).
  • Record information about donations of $200 or more and loans of $500 or more (sections 130ZJ and 130ZK). For more information, see the records and evidence section below.
  • Lodge an annual political expenditure return, if the party's political expenditure during a financial year is more than $5,000 (indexed) (section 130ZR).
  • Lodge half-yearly political party returns within 30 days of the end of each half-yearly period (section 130ZN).
  • In the year of a general election, lodge additional political party returns (section 130ZN). For more information, see the political party and third party returns section below.
  • Lodge a capped expenditure period return within 60 days of polling day if the party's total amount of political expenditure during the capped expenditure period exceeded $5,000 (indexed) (section 130ZQ).
  • Provide audit certificates for all returns lodged (section 130ZV).

Public funding scheme

To opt-in to the public funding scheme, a party must lodge the relevant 130PF certificate under the Electoral Act 1985. Once lodged, a certificate cannot be withdrawn. For more information, see the applying for public funding section. Expenditure caps apply if a party opts-in to this scheme.

Penalties apply if a party or its members exceed their expenditure caps during the capped expenditure period.

For more information see political expenditure caps below.

Political expenditure caps

Part 13A of the Electoral Act 1985.

This information is about the political expenditure caps that apply under the public funding scheme. For further information about the public funding scheme, refer to the information above.

Applicable expenditure caps

If a candidate, group or party has lodged a certificate to opt-in to the public funding scheme, they are subject to limits on their political expenditure during the capped expenditure period.

The applicable expenditure caps for candidates, groups and parties vary.

Unendorsed candidates

Unendorsed House of Assembly candidates:
  • The cap is $100,000 (indexed).
Unendorsed Legislative Council candidates:
  • Ungrouped candidates have a cap of $125,000 (indexed).
Unendorsed groups of Legislative Council candidates:
  • The cap is $100,000 (indexed) multiplied by the number of group members, up to a maximum of 5 members.

Registered political parties and their endorsed candidates

Registered political parties endorsing only Legislative Council candidates:
  • The cap is $500,000 (indexed). Endorsed candidates do not have individual caps; their expenditure is considered that of the party.
Registered political parties endorsing House of Assembly candidates:
  • The party is allocated $75,000 (indexed) per district. The cap per candidate is $100,000, with a default allocation of $40,000 if no agreement is made. Written notice of any allocation must be provided to the Electoral Commissioner at least 8 days before polling day.
Parties endorsing both House of Assembly and Legislative Council candidates:
  • An additional $100,000 (indexed) per Legislative Council candidate is allocated, up to a maximum of $500,000 (indexed).

Expenditure which relates to the election of a House of Assembly candidate

The party agent must ensure that an endorsed House of Assembly candidate only incurs political expenditure that relates directly to their election.

The party agent must also ensure that the party does not spend in a way that causes the candidate’s applicable expenditure cap to be exceeded.

Political expenditure is considered to ‘relate to the election of a candidate’ if it meets all of the following criteria:

  • It concerns electoral matter that explicitly mentions the candidate’s name, the electoral district, or displays the candidate’s image;
  • It is communicated to electors within the candidate’s district; and
  • It is not primarily communicated to electors outside the district.

For more information, refer to section 130ZB of the Electoral Act 1985.

Capped expenditure period

In a general election, the capped expenditure period starts on 1 July in the year before the election. In the case of any other election, it starts on the day which the vacancy giving rise to the election is announced in the House of Assembly by, or on behalf of, the Speaker.

For all elections, the capped expenditure period ends 30 days after polling day.

Offences and penalties

Agents must ensure that their clients do not exceed their applicable expenditure caps.

If a person incurs political expenditure exceeding their applicable expenditure cap during the capped expenditure period, their public funding payment will be reduced by an amount equal to 20 times the excess expenditure.

It is also an offence to enter into an arrangement or agreement with a third party to incur political expenditure on your behalf during the capped expenditure period for the purpose of avoiding your applicable expenditure cap. The maximum penalty for this offence is a fine of $50,000 or imprisonment for 10 years.

Election may be declared void

An election may be declared void on the grounds of a breach of section 130ZA (the capped expenditure provisions) if the Court of Disputed Returns finds, on the balance of probabilities, that the result of the election was affected by the breach (section 107(7)).

Political party and third party returns

For more information, refer to Part 13A of the Electoral Act 1985.

Lodging returns

The agent is responsible for lodging returns on behalf of a registered political party or third party. Learn more about agents.

Note: if a third party who is also an associated entity has lodged an associated entity return for a period, they are not required to lodge a third party return for that same period (section 130ZP(4)).

Half-yearly

Registered political parties and third parties must lodge half-yearly returns within 30 days of the end of each half-yearly period.

During a general election

In the year of a general election, registered political parties and third parties must adhere to specific return lodgement obligations under Part 13A of the Electoral Act 1985:

  1. January return: A return for the month of January must be lodged by 5 February.
  2. High-frequency lodgements: Subsequent returns must be lodged for each 7-day period until 30 days after polling day. These returns must be submitted within 5 days of the end of each 7-day period.

Information required

Returns must set out the following information:

  • The total amount of money received by the entity, or on its behalf, during each prescribed period.
  • A statement of all amounts of $1,000 or less received by, or on behalf of, the entity during that period, including the number of individuals from whom these smaller amounts were received.
  • Details of amounts received of more than $1,000 received by, or on behalf of, the entity during the prescribed period.
  • Total outstanding debt as at the end of the period including:
    • a statement of the total amount of debts of $1 000 or less, and
    • the number of persons to whom these smaller debts are owed.
  • Details of each debt of more than $1,000 incurred by, or on behalf of, the entity during the prescribed period.

Refer to sections 130ZN (political party returns) and 130ZP (third party returns) for more information.

Receipts

Amounts received include all monies received from all sources including:

  • Donations of money or goods.
  • Donations in kind of goods or services.
  • Membership subscriptions.
  • Loans obtained.
  • Earnings from assets or investments.
  • Proceeds from the sale of assets.
  • Payments from Commonwealth or State authorities (including special assistance funding payments).

Transfers between a registered political party and its state or federal counterparts must be included as they are separate entities for reporting purposes.

Two or more amounts received from the same person during the financial year will be treated as one amount (sections 130ZN(4), and 130ZP(3)).

Debts

Outstanding debts can include:

  • Loans
  • Overdrafts
  • Unpaid accounts
  • Unremitted taxes

Prescribed particulars

Regulation 39 of the Electoral Regulations 2024 prescribes additional details which are required to be provided in a return for amounts received from or owed to a trust, company or an association. The names of all trustees, members of the board or executive committee must be provided. In the case of a company donor, there is an additional obligation to provide the names of any related bodies corporate. For more information, please refer to our prescribed particulars guide (PDF, 132KB).

Audit certificates

An audit certificate must be provided for every return lodged with the Electoral Commissioner (section 130ZV).

For returns relating to the designated period of an election, there are only 2 bulk audit certificates required:

  • The first audit certificate must be lodged 7 days before polling day to cover all returns lodged up to that date.
  • The second audit certificate will cover all the remaining returns. The second audit certificate must be lodged on the day the last high-frequency return is due.

You may apply for a waiver of the requirement to provide an audit certificate if:

  • The return is a nil return.
  • The costs of compliance with the audit certificate requirement would be unreasonable.

Offences

Failing to lodge a return within the legislated timeframe is an offence. The maximum penalty for a registered political party agent is $10,000. For any other person, the maximum penalty is $5,000.

Lodging a return which a person knows is false or misleading in a material particular is an offence for which the maximum penalty is $10,000.

For more information, refer to section 130ZZE of the Electoral Act.

Record keeping

In addition to return lodgement obligations, there are also record keeping obligations. See the records and evidence section below for more information.

Records and evidence

For more information, refer to Part 13A of the Electoral Act 1985.

Record keeping

If you have a document that contains information relating to a matter that has been or should be set out in a return lodged with the Electoral Commissioner, you are required to retain those records for at least 4 years. The 4-year period starts on polling day of the election to which the return relates.

Refer to section 130ZZA of the Electoral Act for further information.

Recording donations and loans

A designated participant (entitled registered political party, entitled candidate or entitled group) is not permitted to receive a donation with an amount or value of $200 or more without recording the name and address of the donor (section 130ZJ).

A designated participant is not permitted to receive a loan of $500 or more, other than from a financial institution, without recording the terms of the loan and information regarding the name and address of the lender. Section 130ZK(3) outlines the information that must be recorded about the lender.

Financial institution is defined in section 130A as a body that provides financial services or financial products and is either:

  • an Authorised Deposit-taking Institution (ADI), such as a bank, building society, or credit union; or
  • another body prescribed by the regulations.

A ‘loan’ is defined in section 130A as meaning any of the following:

  • An advance of money.
  • A provision of credit or any other form of financial accommodation.
  • A payment of an amount for, on account of, on behalf of or at the request of, a person, if there is an express or implied obligation to repay the amount.
  • A transaction (whatever its terms or forms) which in substance effects a loan of money.

If credit is provided on a credit card (defined at section 130A) in respect of card transactions, the credit is to be treated as a separate loan for each transaction. 

In the case of a donation or loan received from certain types of entities, you must also record the names of all trustees, members of the board or executive committee (as the case may be). For more information, refer to sections 130ZJ and 130ZK.

Donations and loans of $5,000 or less are not required to be disclosed in a return; however, you must still maintain the required records.

Providing evidence

The Electoral Commissioner has powers to require a person to produce documents or appear at a specified time and place to provide evidence. The Electoral Commissioner will issue the person with a formal notice if the person is required to produce documents or give evidence. There is a $10,000 maximum penalty for failing to comply with a notice or providing false or misleading evidence.

Refer to section 130ZZB of the Electoral Act for further information.

Reporting political expenditure (candidates, groups and parties)

For more information, refer to Part 13A of the Electoral Act 1985.

Definition of political expenditure

Political expenditure is defined in section 130A and regulation 27 of the Electoral Regulations 2024. Political expenditure includes the public expression of views on a political party, a member of parliament, a candidate, or an issue in an election.

For more information, refer to our political expenditure guide on our funding and disclosure guides page.

What must be reported

Political expenditure during capped expenditure period

If a candidate, group, or registered political party incurs more than $5,000 of political expenditure during the capped expenditure period, they must lodge a capped expenditure period return. This must be lodged within 60 days after polling day (section 130ZQ).

If a candidate, group, or party has lodged a certificate to participate in the public funding scheme, they are subject to limits on their political expenditure during the capped expenditure period. The capped expenditure period return will be used by the Electoral Commissioner to determine whether the participant has adhered to their applicable expenditure cap and to determine the amount of public funding payable. 

Annual political expenditure

If a person incurs, by their own authority, more than $5,000 of political expenditure during a financial year, they must lodge an annual political expenditure return.

This return must be lodged within 12 weeks after the end of the financial year. Members of parliament and the Crown are exempt from lodging this return (section 130ZR).

Audit certificates

You are required to provide an audit certificate for every return lodged with the Electoral Commissioner (section 130ZV).

You may apply for a waiver of the requirement to provide an audit certificate if the costs of compliance would be unreasonable.

Offences

Failing to lodge a return within the legislated timeframe is an offence. The maximum penalty for a registered political party agent is $10,000. For any other person, the maximum penalty is $5,000.

Lodging a return which a person knows is false or misleading in a material particular is an offence for which the maximum penalty is $10,000.

For more information, refer to section 130ZZE of the Electoral Act.


View the current register of political parties

How to register a political party

Legislative Council candidates

Information about nominating

 Legislative Council candidates may be:

  • independent ungrouped (not endorsed by a political party)
  • independent grouped (not endorsed by a political party)
  • endorsed by a registered political party.

Independent ungrouped candidates

Independent ungrouped candidates are not aligned to other candidates.

Independent ungrouped candidates must be nominated by at least 250 persons who are enrolled and qualified to vote for the Legislative Council.

Nominations must be accompanied by a deposit of $3,000 in banker's cheque (not a personal cheque) or electronic funds transfer (EFT) to the Electoral Commission of South Australia. If EFT is made you must provide a printed receipt showing successful lodgement of payment.

Intending candidates must contact the returning officer for the Legislative Council to arrange a time to lodge a nomination. You must lodge the following before the close of nominations:

  • A completed nomination form
  • The details and signatures of at least 250 nominators who are electors enrolled and qualified to vote for the Legislative Council
  • A $3,000 deposit (banker’s cheque of EFT)

 It is recommended that nominations are lodged early to allow time to check the names of all nominators.

There is a strict deadline to lodge a completed certificate if a new independent candidate (who has not yet announced their candidacy) wishes to participate in the election funding scheme. Please read the candidate guide RO17 carefully.

Independent grouped candidates

Independent grouped candidates are listed on the ballot paper with other similar candidates by agreement. They are not members of a registered political party.

Independent grouped candidates must be nominated by at least 250 persons who are enrolled and qualified to vote for the Legislative Council district.

Nominations must be accompanied by a deposit of $3,000 in banker's cheque (not a personal cheque) or electronic funds transfer (EFT) to the Electoral Commission of South Australia. If EFT is made you must provide a printed receipt showing successful lodgement of payment.

Intending candidates must contact the returning officer for the Legislative Council to arrange a time to lodge a nomination. You must lodge the following before the close of nominations:

  • A completed nomination form for every candidate
  • The details and signatures of at least 250 nominators who are electors, for every candidate
  • A $3,000 deposit for every candidate

It is recommended that nominations are lodged early to allow time to check the names of all nominators.

There is a strict deadline to lodge a completed certificate if an independent group wishes to participate in the election funding scheme.  Please read the candidate guide RO17 carefully.

Registered political party endorsed candidates

To nominate as a candidate endorsed by a registered political party, complete a nomination form and return it to your party's registered officer. The registered officer may then lodge directly with the Electoral Commission of South Australia.

Registered officers must submit the following before the close of nominations:

  • all the party's nomination forms, and
  • a deposit of $3,000 in banker's cheque or EFT for each candidate nominated

Nomination forms and guides

Nomination kits are available from your local returning officer or from the Electoral Commission SA. Candidates endorsed by a registered political party may obtain their kits from the registered officer of the party.

Page 7 of 9