Funding and disclosure - state elections

Key dates for 2023

The following table contains a list of key dates for the lodgement of disclosure returns under Part 13A of the the Electoral Act 1985 (Electoral Act). The information can assist participants in complying with their funding, disclosure, and registration obligations for 2023.

Participants should note that when a return is due on a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday, the operation of the Legislation Interpretation Act 2021 will cause the event to be moved to the next date which is not a Saturday, Sunday, or public holiday. The timetable allows for these changes.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this timetable is general in nature. Users should refer to the specific wording of the Electoral Act and Electoral Regulations and seek independent legal or other advice on any issues of interpretation that may arise. Dates may be subject to change.

Links

Date	Requirement	Responsible entity	Section
Within 7 days of receipt	Special reporting of large gift (a gift with an amount or value in excess of $25,000)	Registered political parties – party agent	130ZI
Monday 30 January 2023	Last day to lodge special assistance funding claim (with audit certificate) for period 1 July 2022 to 31 December 2022	Eligible registered political parties with at least 1 MP – party agent	130U(3)
Monday 30 January 2023	Last day to lodge registered political party return (total amount received and total outstanding debts incurred by or on behalf of the party with particulars to be provided for amounts received or debts incurred in excess of $5,838	Registered political parties – party agent	130ZN, Regulation 23
Monday 30 January 2023	Last day to lodge associated entity return (total amount received by or on behalf of the associated entity with particulars to be provided for gifts or loans in excess of $5,838	Associated entities – financial controller	130ZO, Regulation 23A
Monday 30 January 2023	Last day to lodge third party return (total amount received and total outstanding debts incurred by or on behalf of the third party with particulars to be provided for amounts received or debts incurred in excess of $5,838	Third parties - agent	130ZP, Regulation 23
Tuesday 31 January 2023	Last day to lodge donor return for gifts of more than $5,838 (indexed) to relevant entities (i.e. registered political parties, associated entities, and third parties) made between 1 July 2022 and 31 December 2022	Individual and organisational donors (but not donors who are registered political parties, associated entities or third parties)	130ZH(7)(b)(i)(B)
Monday 31 July 2023	Last day to lodge special assistance funding claim (with audit certificate) for period 1 January 2023 to 30 June 2023	Eligible registered political parties with at least 1 MP – party agent	130U(3)
Monday 31 July 2023	Last day to lodge registered political party return (total amount received and total outstanding debts incurred by or on behalf of the party with particulars to be provided for amounts received or debts incurred in excess of $5,838	Registered political parties – party agent	130ZN, Regulation 23
Monday 31 July 2023	Last day to lodge associated entity return (total amount received by or on behalf of the associated entity with particulars to be provided for gifts or loans in excess of $5,838	Associated entities – financial controller	130ZO, Regulation 23A
Monday 31 July 2023	Last day to lodge third party return (total amount received and total outstanding debts incurred by or on behalf of the third party with particulars to be provided for amounts received or debts incurred in excess of $5,838	Third parties - agent	130ZP, Regulation 23
Monday 31 July 2023	Last day to lodge donor returns for gifts of more than $5,838 to relevant entities (i.e. registered political parties, associated entities, and third parties) made between 1 January 2023 and 30 June 2023	Individual and organisational donors (but not donors who are registered political parties, associated entities or third parties)	130ZH(7)(b)(i)(A)
Friday 22 September 2023	Annual political expenditure return	Any person or entity who has incurred political expenditure in excess of $5,838 or (for third parties only) $11,675 between 1 July 2022 and 30 June 2023	130ZR
Monday 2 October 2023	Annual return for party registration	Registered political parties – registered officer	43A

Funding and disclosure scheme

Part 13A (the funding, expenditure and disclosure provisions) was inserted into the Electoral Act on 1 July 2015.

Part 13A establishes a funding and disclosure scheme which provides for:

Administrative funding of eligible registered political parties.
Public funding of election campaigns of candidates, groups and registered political parties.
Disclosure of financial information relating to candidates, groups, registered political parties, their associated entities and third parties who engage in campaigning during an election. The financial information is made available for public inspection.

The objects of the funding and disclosure scheme are to:

enhance public confidence in the electoral process by fairly and effectively regulating matters relating to electoral funding, expenditure and disclosure;
to promote integrity and accountability in the electoral process by providing for –
- public funding of elections; and
- caps on political expenditure;
to ensure transparency in political donations;
to promote participation in the electoral process by any elector (including an elector of limited means).

From January 2018, disclosures can be lodged and viewed on the funding and disclosure portal. Pre-January 2018 hardcopy returns can be viewed in the public inspection section.

For more information about funding and disclosure, please select a link from the side menu.

Note: within the funding and disclosure pages on this website, any legislative reference is a reference to the Electoral Act, unless otherwise stated.

Disclaimer

The funding and disclosure information on these webpages is intended as a general guide only and should not be substituted for the legislation. You are advised to refer to the legislation and seek your own independent advice if necessary.