Public funding for political parties

Public funding is public money we provide to eligible political parties and independent candidates.

The amount you can receive is based on how many of your candidates are elected or receive at least 4% of first preference votes at the most recent state election.

We publish the details of funding amounts paid to individual recipients since 2018. This information is updated on a quarterly basis in the Funding register.

How can I receive this funding?

You can receive this funding when your registered officer submits a statement of expenditure for the previous election. This must be accompanied by an audit certificate.

A statement of expenditure is a report that shows the costs your party incurred during the election.

The audit certificate must be completed by a registered company auditor. It must state that the auditor:

  • was given full and free access at all reasonable times to all accounts, records, documents and papers relating directly or indirectly to any matter required to be specified in the statement of expenditure
  • examined the material referred to in paragraph (a) for the purpose of giving the certificate
  • received all information and explanations that the auditor requested in respect of any matter required to be specified in the statement of expenditure
  • has no reason to believe that any matter stated in the statement of expenditure is not correct.

The registered company auditor must use this audit certificate template (PDF). We will not accept any other format. 

Your registered officer must apply for public funding within 20 weeks of an election.

If you do not provide a statement of expenditure and audit certificate you will not receive public funding.

If you give false or misleading information the penalty is up to 300 penalty units or 2 years' prison time.

How much can I receive?

The amount you can receive is based on:

  • the amount listed in your audited statement of expenditure
  • the number of votes your candidates received
  • the maximum legislated amounts.

How and when will I receive payments?

We pay public funding within 30 days of receiving your audited statement of expenditure from the previous election.

Payments are made directly to the party, not candidates or members. Public funding payments must be made into your state campaign account.

Advance public funding

If you receive public funding for a state general election, then you are eligible to receive the same amount of funding in advance of the following state general election. Your registered officer must apply for advanced public funding within 20 weeks of an election.

Advance public funding is paid in four instalments:

  • 40% within 30 days of receiving your audited statement of expenditure
  • subsequent 20% payment instalments issued in April in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th years of the election period.

Advanced funding is indexed annually based on the consumer price index (CPI). For current amounts, see indexation.

After the election for which advance public funding was paid, we will calculate the party’s actual entitlement based on the number of votes received by candidates. If you received more in advance public funding than you were entitled to, we will recoup the difference. If you are entitled to more funding than was paid in advance, we will pay the difference.

How do banned donations affect public funding?

If you or your candidates accept a banned political donation (for example, above the general cap, from a foreign donor, or above the anonymous donor disclosure threshold) your public funding will be reduced by twice the amount of the breach.

For example, if you receive a donation from a foreign donor of $1000 we will reduce your funding amount by $2000.

What can public funding be used for? 

Public funding is paid to reimburse costs related to running a state election campaign. These are known as political and electoral expenditure.

These costs may include:

  • office space
  • staffing costs (including time spent setting-up for promotions)
  • equipment (for example IT systems, vehicles, office stationery, etc.)
  • interest charges on loans
  • utilities
  • travel
  • advertising (including production, distribution, publishing, etc.).

Public funding must not be used for general administration. You cannot use the 2nd, 3rd or 4th advance public funding payments as security or collateral for a loan.