The Electoral (Accountability and Integrity) Amendment Act 2024 introduces advance payments for political participants who lodge a section 130PF certificate. These reforms apply from 1 July 2025 and are part of broader changes to South Australia's electoral funding framework.
Who can apply
Advance public funding is available to:
- Candidates
- Groups
- Registered political parties
- Independent members
Important: An agent must apply before polling day. Funds are deposited into the state campaign account, not to individuals.
Payment structure
Advance funding is paid in 2 instalments:
- Payment A: 60% of the notional amount (or set amount if not recontesting)
- Payment B: 20% of the notional amount (or set amount if not recontesting)
How it’s calculated
Funding is based on estimated entitlement under section 130P, using either:
- Previous state election results (notional amount), or
- A set amount fixed by legislation
Different formulas apply for House of Assembly (HA) and Legislative Council (LC) elections.
Lodging a section 130PF certificate
- Must be lodged after the capped expenditure period begins and before polling day
- Once lodged, the certificate cannot be withdrawn
- Late lodgement may result in no advance funding, but you may still qualify under section 130Q(3)(b) if a section 130Q certificate is lodged within 14 days after polling day.
Payment timing
- Payment A – paid as soon as reasonably practicable after the section 130PF certificate is lodged.
- Payment B – paid as soon as reasonably practicable after the writ is issued*.
* For entitled candidates and groups, Payment B is triggered by the nomination of the candidate(s), not the issue of the writ.
Late lodgement
If the certificate is lodged after the writ but before polling day, Payment A and B are combined.
Use of public funding
Funding can be used for campaign-related costs such as:
- Production, display, and distribution of electoral matter
- Stationery and postage for electoral matter
- Mobile phones used primarily for campaign purposes
- Employing staff during the capped expenditure period
- Office accommodation and associated expenditure (other than the headquarters of a registered political party)
- Advertising (production, distribution, publishing)
Prohibited: General administration or operational costs unrelated to the campaign.
Early payment of certain advance funding
Under Section 130PD of the Electoral Act 1985, certain political participants may request an early payment of a portion of their advance public funding before the capped expenditure period begins.
👉 See advance funding early payment page for more information
Repayment conditions
You may need to repay advance funding if:
- No candidates are nominated
- Candidates don't meet vote thresholds::
- HA: Must receive at least 4% of first preference votes
- LC: Must receive at least 2% of first preference votes
- Overpayment occurs
More information
👉 For detailed information, see:
House of Assembly by-elections
Advance public funding is available in a House of Assembly by-election, but only under strict conditions.
Eligibility
Only the following participants may receive advance funding:
To receive advance funding, a section 130PF certificate must be lodged after the candidate’s nomination has been received and before polling day. Once lodged, the certificate cannot be withdrawn.
If an agent misses the deadline to lodge a section 130PF certificate, they may still be eligible for funding if a section 130Q certificate is lodged within 14 days after polling day.
Advance funding for by-elections is available during a defined period, from the day the vacancy is announced until 30 days after polling day. This period governs when certificates can be lodged and when funding arrangements apply.