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Pre-election period donation disclosure

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What is a pre-election period donation disclosure? 

All reportable political donations, made or received in the lead-up to a NSW state general election, must be disclosed to the NSW Electoral Commission within 21 days as part of a pre-election period disclosure.

A reportable political donation is a donation that is valued at $1,000 or more. A reportable political donation includes multiple donations made by the same donor to the same recipient that in aggregate are valued at $1,000 or more in one financial year.

View pre-election disclosures of reportable political donations lodged by elected members, candidates, groups, political parties, third-party campaigners and associated entities.

To learn more about making pre-election period donation disclosures, watch the video below.

Which political participants must disclose?

Pre-election period disclosure requirements apply to:

  • political parties

  • elected members

  • candidates

  • groups of candidates

  • associated entities

  • third-party campaigners.

Political donors are not required to make a pre-election period disclosure.

What must be disclosed?

All reportable political donations, made or received between 1 October in the year before the election and election day, must be disclosed to the NSW Electoral Commission within 21 days of it being made or received.

Third-party campaigners are only required to disclose reportable political donations received.

If you do not make or receive any reportable political donations between 1 October in the year before the election and election day, you are not required to make a pre-election disclosure. A ‘nil’ disclosure is not required.

How do I make a disclosure?

Disclose online using Funding and disclosure online:

  1. Log in to Funding and disclosure online using your username and password, or request access (if you don’t already have access).

  2. For steps on how to submit a disclosure, you can use the instructions on how to create and submit a disclosure.

Alternatively, download, complete and sign the applicable disclosure form on the website and submit it by email. The disclosure form is available on the website from the start of the lodgement period, i.e. from 1 October.

It is up to you to decide how frequently you will make a pre-election period disclosure as long as you are disclosing reportable political donations within 21 days of the donation being made or received. You can disclose one or more reportable political donations in the one disclosure form.

A pre-election period disclosure form must be lodged on time. Details about how to submit the disclosure form are on the form. A disclosure form must:

  • contain all the pages

  • be completed and signed by the person responsible

  • be accompanied by copies of the receipts issued to the donors who made the political donations.

Can I amend my disclosure once it has been made?

To amend a disclosure previously submitted to the NSW Electoral Commission, the person responsible must use the pre-election period disclosure amendment form through Funding and disclosure online.

The disclosure amendment form is available from the start of the lodgement period, i.e. 1 October.