Key election
funding dates
- Agent appointment
(to accept donations or incur expenditure of $1,000 or more) by 1 August - Candidate and group registrations
close Wednesday 13 August - Declarations due
(parties, councillors, MP's and candidates) by Monday 25 August - Agent registrations
close Friday 12 September - Election day
Saturday 13 September - Declarations due
(parties, councillors, MP's, candidates, groups and donors) by 25 February 2009
Agent training now available
Anyone wishing to be appointed as an official agent for an elected member, candidate or group or as a party agent for a party must be trained and registered with the EFA. Complete the online training program today!!
New Disclosure Rules
Amendments to the Election Funding and Disclosures Act 1981 are now law. Some of the changes include:
- candidates and groups must be registered with the EFA before accepting political donations
- candidates and groups must appoint and register an official agent before receiving or spending $1,000 or more for the election
- party agents and official agents must successfully complete an online training program
- six monthly disclosure for parties, MPs and councillors
- uniform political donation disclosure limit of $1,000
- mandatory disclosure of loans
- new rules for managing campaign finances
- ban on certain 'in kind' donations over $1,000
- new offences for failing to lodge a declaration and making a false statement
- increased powers for the Election Funding Authority
The new disclosure rules affect:
- local government councillors
- local government candidates and groups
- state government candidates and groups
- members of NSW Parliament
- political parties
- political donors
Key Dates
| 30 June 2008 | Disclosure period ends for parties, MP's, councillors and candidates |
| 21 July 2008 | EFA begins online training of official agents and party agents |
| 1 August 2008 | New rules commence with respect to receiving political donations and incurring electoral expenditure |
| 25 August 2008 | Due date for lodging declarations by parties, MP's, councillors and candidates |
| 1 September 2008 | EFA publishes declarations |
| 13 September 2008 | Local government election day |
| 31 December 2008 | Disclosure period ends for parties, MP's, councillors, candidates and donors. |
| 25 February 2009 | Due date for lodging declarations by parties, MP's councillors, candidates, groups and political donors |
Penalties
The maximum penalty for failing to lodge a declaration by the due date is $22,000. Anyone who makes a false statement in a declaration may receive a penalty of up to $22,000 or 12 months imprisonment.
Parliamentary Committee on Electoral and Political Party Funding
For information about the Committee's report on electoral and political party funding visit NSW Parliament.