30-day deadline for disclosure under new political finance laws
Candidates and registered political parties have until Thursday 9 July 2026 to rectify donation disclosure reports and make repayments as part of new political finance election laws.
The new laws passed by Parliament on 5 June replace Part 12 of the Electoral Act 2002, which was declared invalid by the High Court in April. These new laws reintroduce political donation disclosure requirements, political funding, and auditing and reporting obligations, including how this information is monitored and regulated by the VEC.
The laws are retrospective. This means that many of the obligations, functions and powers introduced by the Electoral Further Amendment Act 2026 are taken to have commenced on 15 April 2026.
Candidates, registered political parties and donors who have given or received political donations between the High Court decision and the date the new laws received Royal Assent will have until Thursday 9 July to disclose the donation to the VEC. Disclosures should be made through the VEC's online donation disclosure and report system, VEC Disclosures at disclosures.vec.vic.gov.au.
Electoral participants, including candidates, registered political parties, groups, elected members, associated entities, nominated entities and third-party campaigners, will also be required to repay any amounts they received between 15 April and 9 June 2026 that were over the new general cap for political donations.
The new laws also remove the provision for nominated entities that previously applied, including the exemptions that were given to them. This means that the three registered political parties that had nominated entities under the previous laws must repay any nominated entity funding received above the general cap from Sunday 25 November 2018 to Tuesday 14 April 2026 that remains in state campaign accounts. These repayments must be actioned by election day for the upcoming state election on Saturday 28 November 2026.
The new laws reintroduce most of the features of Victoria’s previous political funding and donation disclosure scheme, such as the ban on foreign donations, however other changes include:
- a 'new entrant' category for eligible registered political parties and independent candidates to provide them with an increased general donation cap for their first election
- changed disclosure thresholds and caps for political donations
- provisions to prevent funding recipients from claiming any credit, rebate, refund, reimbursement or other kind of reduction in tax liability under any law
- mechanisms for the VEC to recover funding from recipients in certain circumstances
- new powers for the VEC to make determinations on electoral expenditure and political expenditure that auditors must follow.
Electoral Commissioner Sven Bluemmel said it was important for all Victorians to understand political funding, donation disclosure and reporting.
'Transparency in political finance supports public trust and confidence in our electoral system,' Mr Bluemmel said.
'With the state election just months away, we urge anyone giving or receiving political donations to understand their obligations under these new laws and make their public disclosure in a timely way.'
The VEC is updating information for registered political parties, candidates and donors to reflect the new laws. More information about the new laws is available at vec.vic.gov.au