20 April 2000

Election returns of candidates for the Holt by-election which have been lodged with the Australian Electoral Commission will be available for public inspection from 9.00 am on Wednesday, 26 April 2000.

Candidates were required to lodge the returns 15 weeks after polling day. Polling day for the Holt by-election was Saturday 6 November 1999, so returns of donations received and certain categories of expenditure incurred were required to be lodged by 21 February 2000.

It should be noted that all candidates have reported nil donations received and nil expenditure. This is not unusual as all candidates at the Holt by-election were endorsed by registered political parties and where campaigns are run by, or on behalf of, a party then it is the party and not the candidate that must disclose those transactions. Political parties lodge annual disclosure returns that become available for public inspection on 1 February in the year following the end of the financial year.

Candidate returns may be inspected during office hours at the AEC's Central Office at West Block, Queen Victoria Terrace, ACT, or at the AEC's Head Office in Melbourne at Level 22 Casselden Place, 2 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne.

Disclosure returns lodged by Broadcasters and Publishers of electoral advertisements are also available for public inspection by phoning the AEC on 02 6271 4416.

Media Contact: Brad Edgman

Director Funding and Disclosure

(02) 6271 4416