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Financial Disclosure
Background
Agents
Gifts
Annual Disclosure Returns
Election-Related Disclosure Returns
The role of the Western Australian Electoral Commission
Further information
Electoral Funding
104.27 kB
Funding and Disclosure in Western Australia Guidelines.
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Background
Political Finance legislation came into force in Western Australia on 9 November 1996 as Part VI of the Electoral Act 1907. All political parties, associated entities, individual candidates, groups and other persons are now required to submit a return to the Electoral Commissioner disclosing details of gifts received and expenditure incurred for election purposes. The essential features of the legislation are shown below.
Agents
All political parties must appoint an agent. Individual candidates, non-party groups and other persons may appoint an agent or accept responsibility for compliance with the Act.
Relevant forms are listed below - click on form to download:
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28.3 kB
FD01 - Appointment of an Agent by a Political Party.
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27.65 kB
FD02 - Appointment of an Agent by a Candidate.
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28.01 kB
FD03 Appointment of an Agent by a Legislative Council Group.
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Gifts
Acceptance of donations from unidentified persons or sources equal to or more than $2100 is prohibited under the Act. Gifts of $2100 or more must be detailed.
Annual Disclosure Returns
All political parties and associated entities are required to lodge a return annually by November 30, disclosing all gifts and other income received for the previous financial year.
Relevant forms are listed below - click on form to download:
State Government Elections: Financial Disclosure Forms |
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26.58 kB
FD04 - Annual Return by a Political Party.
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25.77 kB
FD05 - Annual Return by an Associated Entity.
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Election-Related Disclosure Returns
Political parties are required to disclose expenditure incurred in an election.
Candidates and groups are required to disclose all gifts received and expenditure incurred during the disclosure period for the election. This ends 30 days after polling day, and for previous candidates, commences 30 days after polling day in the previous election, or for new candidates from one year prior to the day of nomination in the present election. For groups it commences from the hour of nomination.
Persons other than political parties, associated entities, candidates and groups who incur expenditure for political purposes, are required to disclose all gifts received and expenditure incurred during the disclosure period for the election. This is the same period as for previous candidates above. If the total amount of expenditure does not exceed $500, a return is not required.
Election returns must be sent to the Electoral Commissioner within 15 weeks after polling day. A penalty is prescribed for non-compliance.
Relevant forms are listed below - click on form to download:
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29.99 kB
FD06 - Disclosure by a Candidate.
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29.37 kB
FD07 - Disclosure by a Legislative Council Group.
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29.01 kB
FD08 - Disclosure by Other Persons.
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26.82 kB
FD09 - Disclosure of Expenditure by a Political Party.
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The role of the Western Australian Electoral Commission
The Electoral Commissioner receives all annual and election-related disclosure returns. The Commissioner is empowered to check all returns, obtain any information relevant to disclosure requirements, and to interview people and scrutinise bank or other financial accounts where donations are deposited.
The public may view returns free of charge at the Commission's offices. The returns are available 4 weeks after the required lodgement date. Annual returns are available the first working day after December 28 and election-related returns from 19 weeks after polling day.
Further information
Further details about Political Finance legislation are available by reading Part VI of the Electoral Act 1907. The Western Australian Electoral Commission has also published guidelines. Contact the Commission for a copy of the guidelines.
