About parties
Why do parties register?
How to register a political party
Current registered political parties
How to re-register a political party
Public funding and financial disclosure
An application to the VEC for registration must include the name and address of the proposed registered officer, a copy of the party's constitution, a statutory declaration about the number of eligible members, a list of the names and addresses of at least 500 members and an application fee.
The VEC then checks the members to confirm whether they are members, and advertises the application.
For more information on the registration of political parties, contact the VEC.
In this Parliament, the deadline to lodge an application for re-registration was Monday, 27 October 2008.
The requirements for an application for re-registration are the same as those for registration described above.
The VEC assesses applications for re-registration in the same way as initial applications. For more information, contact the VEC.
Funding is on the basis of $1.20 (indexed according to the Consumer Price Index) for each first-preference vote received where a candidate obtains at least 4% of the first-preference votes. Registered political parties receive funding for their endorsed candidates, while candidates not endorsed by a registered political party receive funding themselves.
Parties and candidates receive funding only if they provide the VEC with an audited statement that their election spending has been no less than their entitlement. Parties and candidates that have spent less than their entitlement receive only what they have spent. The VEC has the power to request further information, and penalties apply if false statements are made.
See public funding paid at previous elections
There is no provision in Victorian electoral law for disclosure of parties' and candidates' financial affairs. There is provision for disclosure of donations and other financial matters under Commonwealth electoral law. For details, see the Australian Electoral Commission (external link).
How to register a political party
Current registered political parties
How to re-register a political party
Public funding and financial disclosure
Why do parties register?
Political parties gain a number of advantages through being registered. A registered political party:- has the party's name next to its candidates' names on ballot papers;
- is entitled to public funding if it gains enough votes at an election (see below);
- nominates its candidates centrally with the VEC instead of with individual election managers; and
- is entitled to enrolment information (which it can use only for permitted purposes).
How to register a political party
To be eligible for registration, a political party must have at least 500 members who are Victorian electors, are members in accordance with the rules of the party and are not members of another registered political party or of a party applying for registration.An application to the VEC for registration must include the name and address of the proposed registered officer, a copy of the party's constitution, a statutory declaration about the number of eligible members, a list of the names and addresses of at least 500 members and an application fee.
The VEC then checks the members to confirm whether they are members, and advertises the application.
For more information on the registration of political parties, contact the VEC.
Current registered political parties
| Political party | Registered Officer |
|---|---|
| Australian Labor Party—Victorian Branch Re-registered 5 November 2008 |
Mr Stephen Newnham State Secretary 360 King Street West Melbourne Vic. 3003 |
| Christian Democratic Party (Fred Nile Group) Re-registered 19 December 2008 |
Mr Spero Katos Registered Officer 6 Sycamore Street Caulfield Vic. 3171 Party address: PO Box 99 Sandown Village Vic. 3171 |
| Citizens Electoral Council (Victorian Division) Re-registered 5 November 2008 |
Ms Gabrielle Marie Peut Registered Officer 595 Sydney Road Coburg Vic. 3058 Postal address of Registered Officer: PO Box 376 Coburg Vic. 3058 |
| Country Alliance Re-registered 5 November 2008 |
Mr Russell William Bate Registered Officer 10 Laidlaws Road Jamieson Vic. 3723 Postal address of Registered Officer: PO Box 107 Jamieson Vic. 3723 |
| Democratic Labor Party (DLP) of Australia Re-registered 19 December 2008 |
Mr Mark Farrell Secretary 25 Ludwell Crescent Bentleigh East Vic. 3165 |
| Family First Party Victoria Inc. Re-registered 1 December 2008 |
Mr David Chehade Registered Officer PO Box 4631 Knox City Wantirna South Vic. 3152 |
| Liberal Party of Australia—Victorian Division Re-registered 12 December 2008 |
Mr Tony Nutt State Director 104 Exhibition Street Melbourne Vic. 3000 |
| National Party of Australia—Victoria Re-registered 5 November 2008 |
Mr Luke O’Sullivan State Director Level 10 140 Bourke Street Melbourne Vic. 3000 |
| Socialist Alliance (Victoria) Re-registered 5 February 2009 |
Mr Jody Betzien Registered Officer PO Box 12427 A’Beckett Street Vic. 8006 |
| The Australian Greens—Victoria Re-registered 1 December 2008 |
Mr Gurmeet Sekhon Registered Officer Postal address: GPO Box 4589 Melbourne VIC 3001 |
How to re-register a political party
Registered political parties need to apply to the VEC to re-register once during the term of each Parliament.In this Parliament, the deadline to lodge an application for re-registration was Monday, 27 October 2008.
The requirements for an application for re-registration are the same as those for registration described above.
The VEC assesses applications for re-registration in the same way as initial applications. For more information, contact the VEC.
Public funding and financial disclosure
Victorian electoral law provides for public funding of registered political parties and independent candidates in State elections and by-elections.Funding is on the basis of $1.20 (indexed according to the Consumer Price Index) for each first-preference vote received where a candidate obtains at least 4% of the first-preference votes. Registered political parties receive funding for their endorsed candidates, while candidates not endorsed by a registered political party receive funding themselves.
Parties and candidates receive funding only if they provide the VEC with an audited statement that their election spending has been no less than their entitlement. Parties and candidates that have spent less than their entitlement receive only what they have spent. The VEC has the power to request further information, and penalties apply if false statements are made.
See public funding paid at previous elections
There is no provision in Victorian electoral law for disclosure of parties' and candidates' financial affairs. There is provision for disclosure of donations and other financial matters under Commonwealth electoral law. For details, see the Australian Electoral Commission (external link).