Funding

On this page:

Who can receive funding?

We administer funding payments to eligible:

Types of funding

There are 3 types of funding:

Administrative expenditure funding is public money paid to:

  • independent members of Parliament
  • registered political parties with elected members.

This funding can be used to cover the general running costs of a party or member's office.

Public funding is paid to eligible registered political parties and independent candidates. It helps cover some costs of campaigning for a state election. You cannot make a profit from public funding. You will not get more funding than you spent on political and election costs for that election.

Policy development funding can be used to help eligible registered political parties with the costs of developing their policy for state matters.

Funding types and requirements differ depending on the recipient. Learn more about funding for:

The Electoral Act 2002 (the Act) and determinations made by the Electoral Commissioner explain what each type of funding can be used for.

For example:

  • administrative expenditure funding and policy development funding cannot be used for political or election costs
  • public funding can be used for political and election costs.

The current funding system started in November 2018.

Before November 2018, we paid funding after each state general election.

Changes to the law in June 2026 changed funding entitlements.

Record keeping

To receive funding, you need to show you have incurred expenditure.

You must keep any records related to electoral expenditure, political expenditure, and donations.

You must keep these records for at least 4 years from the:

  • relevant election day, for any funding you receive from us
  • the date of an online donation disclosure
  • the date you submit an annual return to us

Records must be kept in paper or electronic form. These records must be available if we need them. There are penalties for submitting false or misleading information.

Examples of related records include:

  • audit records, including statements and certificates
  • receipts
  • transaction records such as bank or credit card statements
  • deposit or cash books
  • receipt or acknowledgement books
  • financial journals or ledgers
  • payroll records.

You may need to keep these records for longer for other purposes, such as your tax obligations. You should consult a tax professional with any tax queries.

Funding register

We publish a register of funding payments.

It shows the payments we have made to:

  • registered political parties
  • independent candidates and
  • independent elected members.

Download funding registers

 

For information on the combined funding amounts, refer to our annual reports.