Third Party Return of Political Expenditure
2017–18 FINANCIAL YEAR		
Section 314AEB(3) requires third parties to furnish a return within 20 weeks after the end of the financial year.
The due date for lodging this return is 19 November 2018.
Completing the return:
•	This return is to be completed by a person or organisation who incurred political expenditure of more than $13,500 in the 2017–18 financial year and received gifts at any time to make such expenditure.
•	Registered political parties and their State branches, candidates, members of the Commonwealth Parliament, and Commonwealth Departments and agencies do not need to complete this return.
•	This return is to be completed with reference to the Financial Disclosure Guide for Third Parties incurring Political Expenditure.
•	Amounts should be reported on a GST inclusive basis.
•	Further information is available at http://www.aec.gov.au/Parties_and_Representatives/financial_disclosure/index.htm.
•	This return will be available for public inspection from Friday 1 February 2019 at the AEC website.
•	Any supporting documentation included with this return may be treated as part of a public disclosure and displayed on the AEC website.
•	The information on this return is collected under s 314AEB and s 314AEC of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918.	
Person or organisation covered by this return		
Name 	      	
Postal address	     	
	Suburb/town	     	State     	Postcode	    	

Person completing this return	
Name (write ‘as above’ 
if completing own return)	     	
Capacity or position 
(e.g. company secretary, self)	     	
Postal address	     	
	Suburb/town	     	State     	Postcode	    	
Telephone number	(   )       	Fax number	(   )       	
Email address	     	
Certification
I certify that the information contained in this return and its attachments is true and complete to the best of my knowledge, information and belief. I have made due and reasonable inquiries of the person/organisation on whose behalf I am authorised to complete this form.
I understand that submitting an incomplete, false or misleading return is an offence under section 315 of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918.

Signature		Date	     	

Enquiries and returns 
should be addressed to: 	Disclosure and Compliance
Australian Electoral Commission
Locked Bag 4007
Canberra ACT 2601	Phone:	02 6271 4552
Fax:	02 6293 7655
Email:	fad@aec.gov.au	
Office use only
Date received	

Part 1: Political expenditure for financial year 1 July 2017 to 30 June 2018	
Where a person or organisation incurred more than $13,500 for one or more of the five categories of political expenditure (listed below) in the 2017–18 financial year, the person or organisation must disclose the amount of political expenditure incurred for each category.
For each category of political expenditure, record the total amount incurred on goods and services provided during the financial year, even if payment for these goods and services was made outside of the financial year.
Expenditure for purposes other than these categories is not political expenditure as defined by the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 (Electoral Act) and does not need to be reported.
PLEASE NOTE:
New rules apply from 15 March 2018 when providing authorisations in federal electoral advertisements and other communications defined under legislation, including the broadcasting of political matter.	
1. 	Public expression of views on a political party, candidate in an election or member of the Commonwealth Parliament by any means.	$     	.00		

2. 	For the period 1 July 2017 to 14 March 2018
Printing, production, publication or distribution of any material (other than that at item 1 or item 5) that is required by section 328, 328A or 328B of the Electoral Act to include a name, address or place of business*.

For period 15 March 2018 to 30 June 2018
The communication of any electoral matter (other than that at item 1 or item 5) that is required by section 321D to be authorized**.	$     	.00		

3. 	Broadcast of political matter in relation to which particulars are required to be announced under subclause 4(2) of Schedule 2 to the Broadcasting Services Act 1992*** (other than that at item 2).	$     	.00		

4. 	Carrying out opinion polling or other research relating to an election (whether or not a writ has been issued for the election) or the voting intentions of electors.	$     	.00		
	
5. 	Public expression of views on an issue that is, or is likely to be, before electors in an election (whether or not a writ has been issued for the election) by any means (other than those at items 1, 2, 3, or 4).	$     	.00		

	Total	$     	.00		

*What do sections 328, 328A and 328B do? (Sections 328,328A and 328B repealed from 15 March 2018)	
Section 328 of the Electoral Act requires all electoral advertisements to include the name and address of the person who authorised the advertisement and, except in the case of newspapers, the name and place of business of the printer at the end.
Section 328A of the Electoral Act imposes a similar requirement on electoral advertisements on the internet.
Section 328B of the Electoral Act imposes a similar requirement in relation to how-to-vote cards.
Electoral advertisements must be authorised at all times, not just during an election period.	
**What does section 321D do?	
From 15 March 2018, the authorisation requirement in Part XXA of the Electoral Act applies to a wide range of communications containing ‘electoral matter’ including all publicly communicated material. This includes printed material, social media, voice calls (including robocalls) and text messaging (for example, bulk text messaging).
Section 321D(5) sets out the new authorisation requirements that apply to the communication of ‘electoral matter’ and ‘political matter’.
Information regarding the new electoral advertising authorisation can be found in the Electoral Backgrounder: 
Electoral communications and authorisation requirements on the AEC website.	
***What does subclause 4(2) of Schedule 2 to the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 do?	
This requires the identification of those who have requested that political matter be broadcast. 
Guidelines at www.acma.gov.au are relevant.
This applies at all times, not just during an election period.	

Part 2: Gifts received for political expenditure for financial year 1 July 2017 to 30 June 2018	
Details of gifts of more than $13,500 received and used (wholly or partly) to incur political expenditure disclosed in Part 1 of this return. Part 2 of this return applies to a third party:
•	who is required to complete Part 1 of this return; and
•	received a gift of more than $13,500 (whether within the 2017–18 financial year or not); and
•	used that gift, or part of it, to incur the political expenditure reported in Part 1; or reimburse such expenditure.
Where the above criteria is met, the following details must be disclosed:
•	full name and address details**** of each person or organisation from whom the gift was received
•	date each gift was received
•	value or amount of each gift.
Any gift which has been disclosed in a previous financial year does not need to be disclosed again.	
Received from	Date of gift 
	Total amount received 
(GST inclusive)	
Name	     	     	$      	.00	
Postal address	     		
Suburb/town	     	State    	Postcode     		
Name	     	     	$      	.00	
Postal address	     		
Suburb/town	     	State    	Postcode     		
Name	     	     	$      	.00	
Postal address	     		
Suburb/town	     	State    	Postcode     		
Name	     	     	$      	.00	
Postal address	     		
Suburb/town	     	State    	Postcode     		
Name	     	     	$      	.00	
Postal address	     		
Suburb/town	     	State    	Postcode     		
Name	     	     	$      	.00	
Postal address	     		
Suburb/town	     	State    	Postcode     		

If insufficient space, please attach additional sheets.
	Total	$      	.00	

**** Name and address details
•	If the gift was from an unincorporated association (other than a registered industrial organisation), the name of the association and the name and addresses of all the executive committee members are required.
•	If the gift was from a trust, the name of the trust, and the name and addresses of all the trustees are required.

Links

State Government legislation may place requirements on third parties in addition to federal requirements. 
Check with your state electoral commission about requirements in your state.

NSW Electoral Commission*
http://www.elections.nsw.gov.au/

Victorian Electoral Commission
https://www.vec.vic.gov.au/

Electoral Commission of Queensland*
https://www.ecq.qld.gov.au/

Western Australian Electoral Commission*
https://www.elections.wa.gov.au/

Electoral Commission of South Australia*
http://www.ecsa.sa.gov.au/

Tasmanian Electoral Commission
https://www.tec.tas.gov.au/

Australian Capital Territory Electoral Commission*
https://www.elections.act.gov.au/ 

Northern Territory Electoral Commission*
http://www.ntec.nt.gov.au/

*denotes an organisation that operates a funding and disclosure scheme separate from the Commonwealth disclosure scheme as at 30 June 2018.