Election disclosure

Election returns: candidates, unendorsed Senate groups and Senate groups endorsed by more than one registered political party must disclose donations and electoral expenditure incurred. Returns to the AEC must show:

• the total value of donations received;
• the total number of donors;
• all individual donations received above the disclosure threshold (personal gifts such as Christmas and birthday presents need not be disclosed);
• the details of donations including:
• the date on which each donation was received;
• the amount or value of each donation;
• the name and address of the donor;
• electoral expenditure (mainly advertising, printing and direct mail costs) incurred between the issue of the writ and polling day.

People or organisations making donations to candidates in excess of the disclosure threshold must also lodge a donor return.

Annual disclosure

Annual returns: registered political parties and their State or Territory branches and associated entities are required to lodge an annual return with the AEC. Returns lodged with the AEC for each financial year must show:

• the total value of receipts;
• the total value of payments;
• the total value of debts as at 30 June; and
• all individual donations received above the disclosure threshold, including:
  • the amount or value of the donation; and
  • the name and address of the donor.

Donors must disclose gifts totalling more than the disclosure threshold made to a registered political party.
From 2006-07, third parties (including associated entities) who incur political expenditure in excess of the disclosure threshold are also required to lodge an annual return.

Public Inspection

Election disclosure returns are made available for public inspection 24 weeks after polling day on this website.
Annual disclosure returns are similarly made available for public inspection from the first working day in February.