Forms, handbooks, and information sheets

Thank you for visiting our compliance resources page. A number of official forms and guides required under Part 13A of the Electoral Act 1985 are now available for download below. These support compliance with election funding, expenditure and disclosure requirements.

Currently available resources include:

Forms

• Associated entity details (PDF, 454KB)
• State campaign account notification (PDF, 848KB)
• Third-party registration (PDF, 355KB)

Guides

• Election Funding - Administrative Funding Guide (PDF, 240KB)
• Election Funding - Advance Funding Guide (PDF, 388KB) 
• Prescribed Details Guide (PDF, 273KB) 

Information sheets and infographics

• Electoral advertising - information sheet (PDF, 632KB)
• Third parties - infographic (PDF, 305KB)

Additional forms, handbooks and information sheets are still under development and will be published here as they are finalised.

If you are unable to locate or access a specific form, or if you have urgent compliance needs, please contact the Compliance Branch at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or phone 08 7424 7400.

On this page

• Donations 
• Campaign donation returns
• Donor disclosure requirements
• Loan restrictions
• Additional disclosure obligations
• Offences and penalties

Under Part 13A of the Electoral Act 1985 (the Act), candidates and groups participating in elections must meet specific reporting requirements related to campaign financing and political expenditure. These obligations ensure transparency and accountability in electoral funding.

Donations to certain participants

While Subdivisions 1 and 2 of the Act establish broad prohibitions on political donations and loans, Subdivision 3 introduces specific rules for regulated designated participants. These participants may still receive donations and loans within strict limits, such as a $5,000 individual cap per financial year, provided they comply with disclosure and return requirements.

👉 See our donations to certain participants page for details.

Campaign donations returns

(section 130ZF)

The agent of each entitled candidate or entitled group must lodge campaign donation returns at prescribed times during the election cycle. These returns must be submitted in a form approved by the Electoral Commissioner.

Returns must include

For donations or loans over $1,000:

• Amount or value
• Date received
• Name and address of the donor or creditor

For donations or loans under $1,000:

• Total value
• Number of donors or lenders

Exemptions

• Donations or loans made privately for personal use and not used for election purposes are exempt from disclosure.

Disclosure period

• New candidates: Begins on the day they announce or are nominated.
• Returning candidates: Begins 30 days after polling day of the previous election they contested.
• Groups: Begins on the day they apply to be grouped on the ballot.
• The period ends 30 days after polling day of the current election.

Prescribed lodgement times

Returns must be lodged:

1. Within 30 days of the end of the period from the start of the disclosure period to the start of the designated period.
2. Within 5 days of the end of the first 30 days of the designated period.
3. Every 7 days thereafter until 30 days after polling day.
4. A final return must be lodged within 5 days of the end of the designated period if fewer than 7 days remain.

Donor disclosure requirements

(section 130ZG)

Individuals who donate or loan more than $1,000 (up to the legal cap of $5,000) to candidates or groups during the disclosure period must lodge a donor return, unless they are a registered party, associated entity, candidate, or group member

What must be included

Donor returns must include

• Details of donations or loans made, including:
  • Amount or value
  • Date made
  • Name and address of the recipient
• Details of funds received and used to make or reimburse those donations or loans:
  • Amount or value
  • Date received
  • Number of contributors

Lodgement deadlines

• If the donation or loan was made before the designated period, within 30 days of the start of the designated period.
• If the donation or loan was made during the designated period, within 7 days after the end of the designated period.

Agent responsibilities

Agents must inform donors of their obligations to lodge a return if applicable.

Loan restrictions

(section 130ZK)

Candidates, groups, and their agents must comply with strict rules regarding loans received during election periods.

Key requirements

It is unlawful to receive a loan of $500 or more from a person other than a financial institution unless detailed records are kept.

Required records include:

• Terms and conditions of the loan
• Name and address of the lender
• Additional details if the lender is:
  • A registered industrial organisation
  • An incorporated or unincorporated association
  • A trust fund or foundation
  • A body corporate (including board members and related entities).

These obligations continue for 30 days after polling day.

Penalties

• Unlawful loans must be repaid to the Crown
• In the case of unicorporate bodies, executive committee members are jointly and individually liable.

Additional disclosure obligations

Candidates, groups, and other electoral participants may be subject to further disclosure obligations under sections 130ZQ to 130ZT of the Act. These provisions apply when political expenditure exceeds certain thresholds or when amounts are received to fund such expenditure.

Political expenditure during capped expenditure period

(section 130ZQ)

• Applies to candidates and groups incurring more than $5,000 in political expenditure during the capped expenditure period.
• Agents must submit a return within 60 days after polling day, detailing the expenditure

Annual political expenditure returns

(section 130ZR)

• Applies to candidates and groups incurring more than $5,000 in political expenditure during a financial year, not acting on behalf of the Crown or as a member of parliament.
• Returns must be submitted within 12 weeks after the end of the financial year.

Annual returns for amounts received

(section 130ZS)

• Applies to candidates and groups required to submit returns under 130ZQ or 130ZR who received amounts over $1,000 used for political expenditure.
• Returns must include:
  • Value and date of each amount
  • Name and address of the contributor
  • Any other prescribed details
• Aggregated amounts from the same donor are treated as one.

Offences and penalties

Candidates and groups must comply with all obligations under Part 13A of the Act. Breaches may result in offences and legal penalties, as outlined in section 130ZZE and Regulation 40 of the Electoral Regulations 2024.

Failure to lodge required returns

Not submitting election period returns, donation and loan disclosures, or audit certificates within the required timeframe is an offence.

Providing false or misleading information

Knowingly submitting incorrect or incomplete information in a return is a serious offence.

Failure to appoint an agent

Each candidate or group must appoint an agent to manage electoral obligations. If no agent is appointed:

• The candidate or group members may be held personally responsible..
• Non-compliance by the agent or responsible persons may result in penalties.

Failure to maintain a state campaign account

If a candidate or group receives funds that must be deposited into a campaign account and fails to do so, this may breach the Act.

Under Part 13A Division 8 of the Electoral Act 1985 (the Act), electoral participants, including political parties, candidates, associated entities, and third parties, must submit financial returns to the Electoral Commissioner at prescribed intervals. These returns promote transparency in electoral funding and ensure compliance with donation and expenditure laws.

Party returns

For registered political parties, section 130ZN of the Act outlines the reporting requirements. The agent of each registered political party is required to submit a political party return at prescribed times, in a format approved by the Electoral Commissioner. Each return must include:

Amounts received

• Total received during the period.
• A breakdown of amounts $1,000 or less, including the number of contributors.
• Prescribed details for each amount over $1,000, including:
  • Value
  • Date received
  • Name and address of the contributor
  • Any other details required by regulation

Debts incurred

• Total outstanding debts at the end of the period.
• A breakdown of debts $1,000 or less, including the number of creditors.
• Prescribed details for each debt over $1,000, including:
  • Value
  • Date incurred
  • Name and address of the creditor
  • Any other details required by regulation
• A declaration by the party agent confirming that no electoral donations were received in breach of Division 6A during the reporting period.

Prescribed reporting periods

Initial period (if no previous return submitted)

From the date the party became subject to the reporting requirements under the Act until either 30 June or 31 December, whichever comes first.

Returns must be lodged within 30 days of the end of the period.

Between general elections

• 1 January to 30 June
• 1 July to 31 December.

Returns for each period must be lodged within 30 days of the end of the period.

During general election periods

From the start of the designated period  to 30 days after polling day:

• First 30 days
• Then, each 14-day period until polling day
• If fewer than 14 days remain before the 30-day post-polling deadline, the final period covers those remaining days.

Returns for each of these periods must be lodged within 5 days of the end of the period.

Aggregation rule

Multiple amounts received from the same person during a financial year are treated as one amount for reporting purposes.

Additional disclosure obligations

In addition to the requirements under section 130ZN, registered political parties and other electoral participants may also be subject to further disclosure obligations under sections 130ZQ to 130ZT of the Act. These provisions apply when political expenditure exceeds certain thresholds or when amounts are received to fund such expenditure.

Political expenditure during capped expenditure period

(section 130ZQ)

• Applies to parties, candidates, groups, or third parties incurring more than $5,000 in political expenditure during the capped expenditure period.
• Agents must submit a return within 60 days after polling day, detailing the expenditure.
• Third parties must disclose any arrangements with Division 6 entities.

Annual political expenditure returns

(section 130ZR)

• Applies to individuals incurring more than $5,000 in political expenditure during a financial year, not acting on behalf of the Crown or as a member of parliament.
• Returns must be submitted within 12 weeks after the end of the financial year.
• Third parties must disclose any relevant arrangements.

Annual returns for amounts received

(section 130ZS)

• Applies to individuals required to submit returns under 130ZQ or 130ZR who received amounts over $1,000 used for political expenditure.
• Returns must include:
  • Value and date of each amount
  • Name and address of the contributor
  • Any other prescribed details
• Aggregated amounts from the same donor are treated as one.

Related matters

(section 130ZT)

• Returns must not include party membership lists.

Audit certificates

An audit certificate must accompany each return. During election periods, only 2 bulk certificates are required:

• One lodged 7 days before polling day
• One lodged on the final return due date.

You may apply for a waiver if compliance costs are unreasonable.

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Offences and penalties

Political parties must comply with all disclosure and reporting obligations under Part 13A of the Act. Non-compliance may result in offences and legal penalties, as outlined in section 130ZZE and Regulation 40 of the Electoral Regulations 2024.

Failure to lodge required returns

Not submitting half-yearly, election period, or audit certificates within the required timeframe is an offence.

Providing false or misleading information

Knowingly submitting incorrect or incomplete information in a return is a serious offence.

Failure to appoint an agent

Each registered political party must appoint an agent to manage its electoral obligations. If no agent is appointed:

• The party’s registered officer or executive members may be deemed responsible.
• Non-compliance by the agent or responsible persons may result in penalties.

Failure to maintain a state campaign account

If a political party receives funds that must be deposited into a campaign account and fails to do so, this may breach the Act.