New entrants

Eligible registered political parties and independent candidates can apply to register as a new entrant. 

Registered new entrants can receive donations from a single donor up to twice the amount of the general cap. For the 2025-26 financial year, this is $10,060. This amount will be indexed on 1 July 2026. 

A registered political party is eligible to register as a new entrant if they have:

  • never received public funding for a previous state election, including by-elections
  • not been eligible to receive administrative expenditure funding during the calendar year they are applying
  • not been eligible to receive policy development funding during the calendar year they are applying.

Independent candidates are eligible to register if they have never received public funding for any previous state elections, including by-elections.

How to apply

Note: if you are an independent candidate, you must be registered in VEC Disclosures before you can apply. You can register at disclosures.vec.vic.gov.au

Please email us at disclosures@vec.vic.gov.au to apply to register as a new entrant using the information below.

For registered political parties

The registered officer of the political party must apply to be a new entrant by email. Please email disclosures@vec.vic.gov.au with the request to register using the following text:

[Name of political party] is applying to register as a new entrant under section 250 of the Electoral Act 2002. As the registered officer of the party, I attest that:

  • the party is registered under Part 4 of the Electoral Act.

To the best of my knowledge, as the registered officer, the party has not received:

  • a payment of public funding under section 231(4) of the Electoral Act in respect of a previous election
  • administrative expenditure funding under section 235 of the Electoral Act during the calendar year
    or
  • policy development funding under section 242 of the Electoral Act during the calendar year.

For independent candidates

Independent candidates must apply by email at disclosures@vec.vic.gov.au to register as a new entrant using the following text: 

I, [candidate’s name as it appears on the register of electors], of [candidate’s address as it appears on the register of electors] am applying to register as a new entrant under section 250 of the Electoral Act 2002. I attest that I:

  • am, or am intending to nominate for election in [name of region or district]
    and
  • have not received a payment of public funding under section 231(5) of the Electoral Act in respect of a previous election. 

Deciding on an application

We will consider an application to register a new entrant within 30 days of receiving an application.  If we approve an application, we will notify the applicant and add their name to the register of new entrants. The ability to receive donations up to twice the general cap amount applies from the registration date. Before this date, the regular general cap applies. 

Ceasing to be a new entrant

A new entrant ceases to be a new entrant:

  • after the end of an election period (for the 2026 state election period, this is after 28 November 2026)
    or
  • earlier, if we decide that the applicant was not eligible to be a new entrant. 

If we decide the applicant was not eligible:

  • we will publish our decision on the VEC website
  • the applicant must return to the donor(s) all political donations received more than the regular general cap.