Media Release 2004: AEC Releases 2002/2003 Funding and Disclosure Annual Returns

29 January 2004

The 2002/2003 Annual Returns for Political Parties, Associated Entities and Donors will be made available for public inspection from Monday 2 February 2004 at 9am (ESST).

Interested parties may access the annual returns on the AEC's website ( www.aec.gov.au ).

The website provides a range of options for analysing the information and also includes a subscriber update service and additional information on the Funding and Disclosure scheme. For example, the legislative obligations of those required to lodge annual returns are set out in a serries of handbooks available on the website.

A CD ROM may be purchased from AEC Head Offices in capital cities and Central Office in Canberra at a cost of $37.00 (inclusive of GST) however, the CD only includes returns received up to the cut off date for production of the CD which was 21 January 2004.

Paper copies of returns are also available for inspection during office hours (9am-5pm) at the AEC's Central Office at West Block, Queen Victoria Terrace, Parkes ACT or by request at AEC Head Offices.

Please note that the annual disclosure returns section of the AEC's website will be unavailable from the midday on Friday 30 January 2004 until 9am on Monday 2 February 2004 to allow the new data to be loaded.

Please also note that whilst the AEC can assist with advice on how to navigate through the information on the website, the AEC is not in a position to provide research assistance nor to interpret or comment on the data contained in the returns.

Media Contact:
Kathy Mitchell
Director
Funding and Disclosure
Ph: (02) 6271 4413 or (02) 6271 4411