Party Registration Annual Returns Due

Registered political parties are reminded that section 43A of the Electoral Act 1985 requires the registered officer to lodge an annual return with ECSA to confirm the party’s continued eligibility for registration. Supporting documentation must also be lodged with the return and the requirement varies between parliamentary and non-parliamentary parties.  The return must be lodged by Wednesday 30 September 2020.

Failure to lodge the required return may be grounds for deregistration of the party.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Funding, Disclosure & Registration Branch at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or telephone 08 7424 7400.

Annual Political Expenditure Returns Due

Section 130ZR of the Electoral Act 1985 requires any person who has incurred political expenditure of more than $5,381 during the financial year 1 July 2019 – 30 June 2020 to lodge an Annual Political Expenditure Return with the South Australian Electoral Commissioner. The return must be lodged by Tuesday 22 September 2020.

If a person does NOT have any disclosable political expenditure, then they are NOT required to lodge a return (i.e. spent $5,381 or under). Nil returns do not need to be lodged.

The Annual Political Expenditure Return can be lodged via the Funding and Disclosure Portal. A Political Expenditure Guide is available on the guides page.

Note:

  1. Members of the South Australian Parliament and the Crown are excluded from the requirement to lodge this return.
  2. The lodgement obligation extends to any person incurring political expenditure over the threshold. A ‘person’ also includes an unincorporated association (see section 130A).
  3. The South Australian disclosure scheme only relates to State matters. Therefore, expenditure on Federal or local government campaigning, are not considered ‘political expenditure’ under the scheme.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Funding, Disclosure & Registration Branch at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or telephone 08 7424 7400.

Report into funding and disclosure legislation

Electoral Commission SA’s report on the operation and administration of South Australia’s funding, expenditure and disclosure legislation was tabled in the Parliament this week.

In addition to providing an overview of the funding, expenditure and disclosure legislation, the report contains 44 recommendations that ECSA believes are necessary to facilitate the efficient and effective operation of this legislation.

Report into the Operation and Administration of South Australias Funding, Expenditure and Disclosure Legislation

Annual Political Expenditure Returns Due

Section 130ZR of the Electoral Act 1985 requires any person who has incurred political expenditure of more than $5,310 during the financial year 1 July 2018 – 30 June 2019 to lodge an Annual Political Expenditure Return with the South Australian Electoral Commissioner. The return must be lodged by Monday 23 September 2019.

If a person does NOT have any disclosable political expenditure, then they are NOT required to lodge a return (ie spent $5,310 or under). Nil returns do not need to be lodged.

The Annual Political Expenditure Return can be lodged via the Funding and Disclosure Portal. An Annual Political Expenditure Return Guide and a Political Expenditure Guide are available on the guide page.

Note:

  1. Members of the South Australian Parliament and the Crown are excluded from the requirement to lodge this return.
  2. The lodgement obligation extends to any person incurring political expenditure over the threshold. A ‘person’ also includes an unincorporated association (see section 130A).
  3. The South Australian disclosure scheme only relates to State matters. Therefore, expenditure on Federal or local government campaigning, are not considered ‘political expenditure’ under the scheme.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Funding, Disclosure & Registration Branch on 7424 7400.

Australian Conservatives (SA) de-registered

The Australian Conservatives (SA) has been de-registered pursuant to a voluntary application for de-registration under section 44 of the Electoral Act 1985.

Half-yearly returns available for viewing.

The half-yearly Political Party Returns, Associated Entity Returns and Donor Returns for the period up to 31 December 2018 are now available to be viewed on the Funding and Disclosure Portal.

For more information about disclosures, please contact our Funding, Disclosure & Registration Branch on 7424 7400.

Annual Political Expenditure Returns 2017-18

Annual Political Expenditure Returns for the financial year 2017-18 were required to be lodged by 24 September 2018.

Annual Political Expenditure Returns Due 2017-18

A reminder to those who have incurred political expenditure of more than $5,191 during the financial year 2017-18, the Annual Political Expenditure Return is required to be lodged by 24 September.

Annual Political Expenditure Returns Due 2017-18

Section 130ZR of the Electoral Act 1985 requires any person who has incurred political expenditure of more than $5,191 during the financial year 1 July 2017 – 30 June 2018 to lodge an Annual Political Expenditure Return with the South Australian Electoral Commissioner. The return must be lodged by Monday 24 September 2018.

Half-yearly returns available for viewing

The half-yearly Political Party Returns, Associated Entity Returns and Donor Returns for the period up to 30 June 2018 are now available to be viewed on the Funding and Disclosure Portal.

Country Labor Party De-registered

he Country Labor Party has been de-registered under section 45 of the Electoral Act 1985 for failing at either of the last 2 general elections for the House of Assembly, or a simultaneous Legislative Council election, to endorse a candidate for election.

Page 3 of 3