Q1 What is a third-party campaigner?
A third-party campaigner is an entity or person who incurs electoral communication expenditure during a capped expenditure period which exceeds $2,200 in total. This excludes registered political parties, candidates, elected members and groups.
A third-party campaigner could also be a major political donor if the third-party campaigner makes a reportable political donation to a party, elected member, group of candidates or to an individual candidate of or exceeding $1,000.
Q2 What’s the difference between a political donor and a third-party campaigner?
The Act defines a donor as a ‘person who makes a gift’, while a third-party campaigner is defined as ‘an entity or other person (not being a registered party, elected member, group or candidate) who incurs electoral communication expenditure during a capped expenditure period’. This means that a donor tries to influence the outcome of an election in an indirect way by donating money or non-monetary gifts to a political party, candidate, group, elected member or third-party campaigner, while a third-party campaigner tries to influence an election in a direct way, eg through advertising.
Q3 When does the disclosure period start and end?
Disclosures cover a twelve-month period from 1 July to 30 June each year.
Q4 When do I need to submit my disclosures by?
Disclosures cannot be lodged until after the disclosure period ends on 30 June. Disclosures are to be lodged with the EFA from 1 July to 22 September.
Q5 Who is responsible for lodging a disclosure?
The official agent of the third-party campaigner is responsible for lodging a disclosure.
Q6 Do I have to disclose the details of all donations?
You must disclose details of all reportable political donations (ie donations of $1,000 or more).
Q7 Do I need to have my disclosure audited?
Yes. Third-party campaigners must have their disclosure audited by a registered company auditor unless the EFA has approved an exemption (contact the EFA for more details). The auditor is encouraged to follow the guidelines for registered company auditors published on the EFA’s website.
Q8 Who can audit my disclosure?
Only registered company auditors can audit a disclosure.
Q9 Do I need to provide any supporting documents when I lodge my disclosure?
Yes. The following items must be submitted with the disclosure
• the receipt and acknowledgement book issued to you by the EFA; and
• invoices and/or receipts supporting expenditure stated in your disclosure (ie advertising and printing expenditure).
Q10 Where do I send my disclosure?
Disclosures can be posted to:
The Secretary
Election Funding Authority of NSW
GPO Box 4046
Sydney NSW 2001
Alternatively, you can fax your disclosure to: (02) 9290 5410 or email to: enquiries@efa.nsw.gov.au