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Ch3 Elections and the electoral system / PUBLIC FUNDING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE / Financial disclosure / Returns by candidates



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House of Representatives                                Ch 3                                                 p 99

 

Elections and the electoral system / PUBLIC FUNDING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE / Financial disclosure

 

Returns by candidates

After each election, candidates and groups are required to disclose publicly donations received for electoral purposes and electoral expenditure incurred or authorised by them. 1 Principal provisions include:

  • Returns must be submitted to the Electoral Commission, within 15 weeks of polling day.
  • Disclosure of donations covers the period from 31 days after the poll for the preceding election to 30 days after the poll for the current election. Returns of individual candidates who have not been candidates at a federal election within the previous four (House) or seven (Senate) years must cover the period commencing on the day of nomination or announcement of candidature for the current election, or in the case of Senators appointed under the casual vacancy provisions, the day of appointment. 2
  • Returns must set out the total amount or value of all gifts received, the number of persons who made gifts, the number of gifts, and for gifts from a single source of or greater than a specified total value ($1000 in the case of a group and $200 in the case of a candidate) details of each gift, including the date of the gift, its value and the name and address of the donor. Details of each gift are not required if the gift has been made and has been or will be used for purposes unrelated to an election. 3
  • Returns must also be made setting out details of expenditure incurred in relation to the election in respect of advertising, electoral material, direct mailing, the conducting of opinion polls or other research. 4
  • If no donations have been received or no expenditure has been incurred returns must nevertheless be lodged with a statement to this effect. 5


  • Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 , ss. 303-314AG.



    Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 , s. 287.



    Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 , s. 304.



    Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 , ss. 308-9.



    Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 , s. 313.