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This is a Bill, not an Act. For current law, see the Acts databases.


ELECTION FUNDING AMENDMENT (POLITICAL DONATIONS AND EXPENDITURE) BILL 2008





                                 New South Wales




Election Funding Amendment (Political
Donations and Expenditure) Bill 2008


Contents

                                                                                 Page
                    1   Name of Act                                                2
                    2   Commencement                                               2
                    3   Amendment of Election Funding Act 1981 No 78               2
                    4   Consequential repeal of provisions of Local Government
                        Act 1993 No 30 and regulation                              2
              5         Repeal of Act                                              2
     Schedule 1         Amendments                                                 3




b2008-021-33.d08d

 


 

 

New South Wales Election Funding Amendment (Political Donations and Expenditure) Bill 2008 No , 2008 A Bill for An Act to amend the Election Funding Act 1981 in relation to political donations and electoral expenditure. See also Local Government and Planning Legislation Amendment (Political Donations) Bill 2008.

 


 

Election Funding Amendment (Political Donations and Expenditure) Clause 1 Bill 2008 The Legislature of New South Wales enacts: 1 1 Name of Act 2 This Act is the Election Funding Amendment (Political Donations and 3 Expenditure) Act 2008. 4 2 Commencement 5 This Act commences on a day or days to be appointed by proclamation. 6 3 Amendment of Election Funding Act 1981 No 78 7 The Election Funding Act 1981 is amended as set out in Schedule 1. 8 4 Consequential repeal of provisions of Local Government Act 1993 No 30 9 and regulation 10 (1) The Local Government Act 1993 is amended by omitting Part 8 of 11 Chapter 10. 12 (2) The Local Government (General) Regulation 2005 is amended by 13 omitting clause 393 of, and Schedule 6 to, that Regulation. 14 5 Repeal of Act 15 (1) This Act is repealed on the day following the day on which all of the 16 provisions of this Act have commenced. 17 (2) The repeal of this Act does not, because of the operation of section 30 18 of the Interpretation Act 1987, affect any amendment made by this Act. 19 Page 2

 


 

Election Funding Amendment (Political Donations and Expenditure) Bill 2008 Amendments Schedule 1 Schedule 1 Amendments 1 (Section 3) 2 [1] Long title 3 Omit "political contributions and electoral expenditure". 4 Insert instead "political donations and electoral expenditure for Parliamentary 5 or local government election campaigns". 6 [2] Section 1 Name of Act 7 Omit "Election Funding Act". 8 Insert instead "Election Funding and Disclosures Act". 9 [3] Section 4 Definitions 10 Omit the definitions of by-election, day of nomination, donor, election, 11 expenditure, general election, gift, group and official agent from section 12 4 (1). 13 Insert in alphabetical order: 14 by-election means: 15 (a) in relation to State elections--a by-election for the 16 Assembly, or 17 (b) in relation to local government elections--a by-election 18 for a councillor (including the mayor) of the council of a 19 local government area. 20 day of nomination, in relation to an election, means the day by 21 which all nominations in the election must be made. 22 donor--see section 84. 23 elected member means: 24 (a) a member of Parliament, or 25 (b) a councillor (including the mayor) of the council of a local 26 government area, 27 and includes a person who, during any period after ceasing to be 28 a member of Parliament or a councillor, is entitled to 29 remuneration as such a member or councillor. 30 election means a State election or a local government election. 31 entity--see section 84. 32 expenditure--see section 84. 33 Page 3

 


 

Election Funding Amendment (Political Donations and Expenditure) Bill 2008 Schedule 1 Amendments general election means: 1 (a) in relation to State elections--an Assembly general 2 election and a periodic Council election held or to be held 3 concurrently, or 4 (b) in relation to local government elections--a local 5 government election other than a by-election. 6 gift--see section 84. 7 group means: 8 (a) in relation to State elections--a group of candidates, or 9 part of a group of candidates, for a periodic Council 10 election, or 11 (b) in relation to local government elections--a group of 12 candidates, or part of a group of candidates, for a local 13 government election. 14 local government election means an election under the Local 15 Government Act 1993 for the office of councillor or mayor under 16 that Act (other than an election of mayor by councillors). 17 official agent means: 18 (a) in relation to an elected member of Parliament who is a 19 member of a registered party--the party agent of the party, 20 or 21 (b) in relation to any other elected member who is a candidate 22 or member of a group--the official agent of the candidate 23 or group, or 24 (c) in relation to a State election candidate who is a member of 25 a registered party--the party agent of the party, or 26 (d) in relation to a State election group whose members are all 27 members of a registered party--the party agent of the 28 party, or 29 (e) in relation to a candidate or group of a class specified in the 30 regulations for the purposes of this paragraph--the 31 Authority or a government agency so specified, or 32 (f) in relation to any other candidate or group--the official 33 agent registered in the Register of Official Agents for that 34 candidate or group (or the person taken to be the official 35 agent under section 49), or 36 (g) in any other case--a person (including the elected member 37 or candidate) designated by the Authority. 38 For the purposes of this definition, if some of the candidates in a 39 State election group are members of one registered party and 40 other candidates in the group are members of another registered 41 Page 4

 


 

Election Funding Amendment (Political Donations and Expenditure) Bill 2008 Amendments Schedule 1 party, the official agent of the group is the party agent of one of 1 those parties as is designated by those candidates. 2 Note. Except where paragraph (f) applies, the other persons designated 3 as official agents are ex-officio agents who are not entered in the 4 Register of Official Agents. An elected council member or council 5 candidate or group may appoint for entry in the Register of Official 6 Agents the relevant party agent as his or her official agent. 7 State election means an Assembly general election, a periodic 8 Council election or a by-election for the Assembly. 9 [4] Section 4 (1), definition of "candidate" 10 Insert "or in accordance with the Local Government Act 1993 (as the case 11 requires)" after "Parliamentary Electorates and Elections Act 1912". 12 [5] Section 4 (1), definition of "party" 13 Insert "or a local council" after "to Parliament". 14 [6] Section 4 (9) and (10) 15 Omit the subsections. 16 [7] Section 23 Particular functions 17 Omit "declarations of political contributions". 18 Insert instead "disclosures of political donations". 19 [8] Section 24 Guidelines 20 Omit "declarations". Insert instead "disclosures". 21 [9] Section 25 Research 22 Omit "political contributions". Insert instead "political donations". 23 [10] Part 4 Registration, Division 1 24 Insert before Division 2 of Part 4: 25 Division 1 Preliminary 26 26 Application to registration for State and local government 27 elections 28 This Part applies to the registration of candidates, groups and 29 agents for State elections and local government elections. 30 Page 5

 


 

Election Funding Amendment (Political Donations and Expenditure) Bill 2008 Schedule 1 Amendments 27 Qualification of persons to be appointed as party or official agents 1 (1) The following persons are not qualified to be appointed as party 2 agents or official agents: 3 (a) a corporation, 4 (b) a person who is not enrolled to vote at State elections, 5 (c) a person who has been convicted of an indictable offence, 6 an offence against this Act, an offence involving 7 dishonesty or an electoral offence, 8 (d) a person whom the Authority determines is not a fit and 9 proper person to be such an agent, 10 (e) a person who has not completed the training prescribed by 11 the regulations for appointment as such an agent (unless 12 the person is of a class of persons recognised by the 13 regulations as a person eligible for appointment without 14 further training). 15 (2) A person may be appointed as the official agent of more than one 16 candidate or group. 17 (3) The Authority may cancel the registration under this Part of a 18 person as a party agent or an official agent if the person is no 19 longer qualified to be appointed as such an agent. 20 [11] Section 31 Register of Candidates to be kept 21 Insert after section 31 (1): 22 (1A) The Authority is to keep separate Registers of Candidates for 23 State and local government elections. The register for State 24 elections may be called the State Register of Candidates and the 25 register for local government elections may be called the Local 26 Government Register of Candidates. 27 [12] Section 33 Applications for registration of candidates 28 Insert "in the case of a State election," before "the House of Parliament" in 29 section 33 (2) (c). 30 [13] Section 33 (2) (c1) 31 Insert after section 33 (2) (c): 32 (c1) in the case of a local government election, the council for 33 which the candidate is a candidate, 34 Page 6

 


 

Election Funding Amendment (Political Donations and Expenditure) Bill 2008 Amendments Schedule 1 [14] Section 35 Lodging of applications 1 Omit "the returning officer for any electoral district or" in section 35 (1). 2 Insert instead "an election official designated by the Authority or". 3 [15] Section 35 (2) and (3) 4 Omit "a returning officer" from section 35 (2) and "A returning officer" from 5 section 35 (3). 6 Insert instead "an election official" and "An election official" respectively. 7 [16] Section 39 Register of Party Agents to be kept 8 Insert after section 39 (1): 9 (1A) The Authority is to keep separate Registers of Party Agents for 10 State and local government elections. The register for State 11 elections may be called the State Register of Party Agents and the 12 register for local government elections may be called the Local 13 Government Register of Party Agents. 14 [17] Section 41 Appointment etc of party agents 15 Omit section 41 (2). Insert instead: 16 (2) If at any time a party does not have a party agent appointed under 17 this section, the party agent is the person who holds office at that 18 time as the registered officer of the party under Part 4A of the 19 Parliamentary Electorates and Elections Act 1912 or under the 20 Local Government Act 1993, as the case requires. 21 [18] Section 46 Appointment etc of official agents 22 Insert after section 46 (1): 23 Note. An appointment of an official agent is only required where the 24 party agent or other person is not the ex-officio agent (see definition of 25 "official agent" in section 4). A candidate or group that does not have an 26 official agent cannot be paid any election funding payment due under 27 Part 5 (see section 77 (1)) and cannot accept political donations under 28 Part 6 (see section 96A). 29 [19] Section 46 (2) 30 Omit the subsection. 31 Page 7

 


 

Election Funding Amendment (Political Donations and Expenditure) Bill 2008 Schedule 1 Amendments [20] Section 47 Entries in the Register 1 Insert after section 47 (3): 2 (4) The Authority may include in the Register of Official Agents 3 particulars of the persons who are official agents because of the 4 office they hold and not because of an appointment under this 5 Division. 6 [21] Section 49 Where there is no official agent for a candidate or group 7 Insert before section 49 (1): 8 (1A) This section applies only to candidates, or all candidates in a 9 group, who are authorised under section 96A to accept political 10 donations and incur electoral expenditure without a campaign 11 account under section 96B. 12 [22] Section 51 Registers for by-elections 13 Omit section 51 (2). Insert instead: 14 (2) The registers are to be kept as from: 15 (a) in the case of a State election--the day of the issue of the 16 writ for the by-election, or 17 (b) in the case of a local government election--the day for the 18 close of the roll of electors for the by-election. 19 [23] Section 51 (4) (a) 20 Omit "sections 32, 33, 35, 36 and 38". 21 Insert instead "sections 31 (1A), 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37 and 38". 22 [24] Section 51 (4) (c) 23 Insert "in the case of a State election," before "references". 24 [25] Section 52 Public access to registers 25 Omit section 52 (2). 26 [26] Part 5 Public funding of election campaigns, section 54A 27 Insert before section 55: 28 54A Application to State elections only 29 (1) This Part does not apply to or in relation to local government 30 elections. 31 Page 8

 


 

Election Funding Amendment (Political Donations and Expenditure) Bill 2008 Amendments Schedule 1 (2) Accordingly, a reference in this Part to an election, general 1 election or by-election is a reference that relates to a State 2 election. 3 [27] Section 59 General entitlements of parties 4 Omit "registered agents" wherever occurring. Insert instead "party agents". 5 [28] Section 74 Claims for, and approvals of, payments 6 Omit "registered agent" from section 74 (2) (a) (i). 7 Insert instead "party or official agent". 8 [29] Section 76A Making payments to party at direction of candidate 9 Omit "registered agent" from section 76A (3) (c). Insert instead "party agent". 10 [30] Section 77 Making of payments 11 Omit "registered agent" wherever occurring. 12 Insert instead "party or official agent". 13 [31] Section 77 (2A) 14 Insert after section 77 (2): 15 (2A) Despite subsections (1) and (2), payments to be made to a group 16 or candidate are required to be paid into the campaign account of 17 the group or candidate if such an account is required to be kept 18 under section 96A. 19 [32] Section 78 20 Omit the section. Insert instead: 21 78 Payments conditional on disclosure of political donations etc 22 A party, group or candidate is not eligible for any payment (other 23 than advance payments) under this Part in respect of a general 24 election while any failure to lodge a requisite declaration under 25 Part 6 in respect of the party, group or candidate for a past period 26 continues. 27 [33] Section 82 False statements 28 Omit "and liable to a penalty not exceeding 100 penalty units" wherever 29 occurring. 30 Insert at the end of the section: 31 Maximum penalty: 200 penalty units or imprisonment for 32 2 years, or both. 33 Page 9

 


 

Election Funding Amendment (Political Donations and Expenditure) Bill 2008 Schedule 1 Amendments [34] Part 6 1 Omit the Part. Insert instead: 2 Part 6 Political donations and electoral 3 expenditure 4 Division 1 Preliminary 5 83 Application 6 This Part applies in relation to: 7 (a) State elections and elected members of Parliament, and 8 (b) local government elections and elected members of 9 councils. 10 84 Definitions--general 11 (1) In this Act: 12 disposition of property--see section 4. 13 Note. A disposition of property includes any transaction that diminishes 14 the value of a person's own property and increases the value of the 15 property of another person. Property includes money. 16 donor means a person who makes a gift. 17 entity means: 18 (a) an incorporated or unincorporated body, or 19 (b) the trustee of a trust. 20 expenditure includes any disposition of property. 21 gift means any disposition of property made by a person to 22 another person, otherwise than by will, being a disposition made 23 without consideration in money or money's worth or with 24 inadequate consideration, and includes the provision of a service 25 (other than volunteer labour) for no consideration or for 26 inadequate consideration. 27 major political donor means a political donor referred to in 28 section 88 (2). 29 relevant disclosure period--see section 89. 30 (2) For the purposes of this Part, a reference to a candidate or group 31 extends to an individual who, or a group of individuals which, 32 accepts gifts for use solely or substantially for a purpose related 33 to the proposed candidacy of the individual or individuals at a 34 future election. 35 Page 10

 


 

Election Funding Amendment (Political Donations and Expenditure) Bill 2008 Amendments Schedule 1 Note. Section 96A (2) makes it unlawful for any such political donations 1 to be accepted unless the individual or group is registered as a candidate 2 or group under this Act. 3 (3) For the purposes of this Part: 4 (a) a person who is a candidate in an election, or 5 (b) a group of candidates in an election, 6 is taken to remain a candidate or group for 30 days after the 7 polling day for the election. 8 Note. A disclosure is still required to be made by candidates and groups 9 after they cease to be candidates or groups following the election if they 10 were a candidate or group during any part of the relevant disclosure 11 period for the disclosure--see section 88 (4). 12 (4) For the purposes of this Act: 13 (a) the amount of a donation or expenditure consisting of a 14 disposition of property other than money is taken to be the 15 amount equal to the value of the property disposed of, and 16 (b) the value of property disposed of or the value of a gift may, 17 if the Authority so requires, be determined by valuers 18 appointed or approved by the Authority in accordance with 19 the regulations. 20 Note. The regulations may make provision for requiring agents to obtain 21 valuations from a valuer approved by the Authority of political donations 22 that are not gifts of money (or enabling the Authority to obtain any such 23 valuations--see section 117 (1) (a1)). 24 (5) A reference in this Part to the name and address of a person 25 making a donation or loan is: 26 (a) in the case of a donation or loan made by an 27 unincorporated association--a reference to the name of the 28 association and the names and addresses of the members of 29 the executive committee (however described) of the 30 association, and 31 (b) in the case of a donation or loan purportedly made out of a 32 trust fund or out of the funds of a foundation--a reference 33 to the names and addresses of the trustees of the fund or of 34 the funds of the foundation and the title or other 35 description of the trust fund or the name of the foundation. 36 (6) For the purposes of this Part, corporations that are related to each 37 other (as determined in accordance with the Corporations Act 38 2001 of the Commonwealth) are taken to be a single corporation. 39 Page 11

 


 

Election Funding Amendment (Political Donations and Expenditure) Bill 2008 Schedule 1 Amendments 85 Meaning of "political donation" 1 (1) For the purposes of this Act, a political donation is: 2 (a) a gift made to or for the benefit of a party, or 3 (b) a gift made to or for the benefit of an elected member, or 4 (c) a gift made to or for the benefit of a candidate or a group 5 of candidates, or 6 (d) a gift made to or for the benefit of an entity or other person 7 (not being a party, elected member, group or candidate), 8 the whole or part of which was used or is intended to be 9 used by the entity or person: 10 (i) to enable the entity or person to make, directly or 11 indirectly, a political donation or to incur electoral 12 expenditure, or 13 (ii) to reimburse the entity or person for making, 14 directly or indirectly, a political donation or 15 incurring electoral expenditure. 16 (2) An amount paid by a person as a contribution, entry fee or other 17 payment to entitle that or any other person to participate in or 18 otherwise obtain any benefit from a fund-raising venture or 19 function (being an amount that forms part of the proceeds of the 20 venture or function) is taken to be a gift for the purposes of this 21 section. 22 (3) An annual or other subscription paid to a party by: 23 (a) a member of the party, or 24 (b) a person or entity (including an industrial organisation) for 25 affiliation with the party, 26 is taken to be a gift to the party for the purposes of this section. 27 Note. Unless details of any such subscription are required to be 28 disclosed because it is a reportable political donation of or above $1,000, 29 the total amount of subscriptions and other details are required to be 30 disclosed under section 92 (4). 31 (4) The following are not political donations: 32 (a) a gift to an individual that was made in a private capacity 33 to the individual for his or her personal use and that the 34 individual has not used, and does not intend to use, solely 35 or substantially for a purpose related to an election or to his 36 or her duties as an elected member, 37 (b) a payment under Part 5 (Public funding of election 38 campaigns) or Part 6A (Political Education Fund). 39 Note. Even though an election funding payment to a group or candidate 40 is not a donation required to be disclosed, the amount is required to be 41 Page 12

 


 

Election Funding Amendment (Political Donations and Expenditure) Bill 2008 Amendments Schedule 1 paid into the separate campaign account that is established for 1 donations to and electoral expenditure by the group or candidate--see 2 section 77 (2A). 3 86 Meaning of "reportable political donation" 4 (1) For the purposes of this Act, a reportable political donation is: 5 (a) in the case of disclosures under this Part by a party, elected 6 member, group or candidate--a political donation of or 7 exceeding $1,000 made to or for the benefit of the party, 8 elected member, group or candidate, or 9 (b) in the case of disclosures under this Part by a major 10 political donor--a political donation of or exceeding 11 $1,000: 12 (i) made by the major political donor to or for the 13 benefit of a party, elected member, group or 14 candidate, or 15 (ii) made to the major political donor. 16 (2) A political donation of less than an amount specified in 17 subsection (1) made by an entity or other person is to be treated 18 as a reportable political donation if that and other separate 19 political donations made by that entity or other person to the same 20 party, elected member, group, candidate or person within the 21 same financial year (ending 30 June) would, if aggregated, 22 constitute a reportable political donation under subsection (1). 23 (3) A political donation of less than an amount specified in 24 subsection (1) made by an entity or other person to a party is to 25 be treated as a reportable political donation if that and other 26 separate political donations made by that entity or person to an 27 associated party within the same financial year (ending 30 June) 28 would, if aggregated, constitute a reportable political donation 29 under subsection (1). This subsection does not apply in 30 connection with disclosures of political donations by parties. 31 (4) For the purposes of subsection (3), parties are associated parties 32 if endorsed candidates of both parties were included in the same 33 group in the last periodic Council election or are to be included 34 in the same group in the next periodic Council election. 35 87 Meaning of "electoral expenditure" 36 (1) For the purposes of disclosure of electoral expenditure and other 37 requirements of this Part, the following is electoral expenditure: 38 (a) expenditure on advertisements in radio, television, the 39 Internet, cinemas, newspapers, billboards, posters, 40 Page 13

 


 

Election Funding Amendment (Political Donations and Expenditure) Bill 2008 Schedule 1 Amendments brochures, how-to-vote cards and any other printed 1 election material, 2 (b) expenditure on the holding of election rallies, 3 (c) expenditure on the distribution of election material, 4 (d) expenditure on travel and accommodation of a candidate 5 for election, 6 (e) expenditure on research associated with election 7 campaigns, 8 (f) expenditure incurred in raising funds for an election, 9 (g) expenditure on stationery, telephones, messages, postage 10 and electronic transmissions, 11 (h) expenditure incurred in employing staff engaged in 12 election campaigns, 13 (i) expenditure classified as electoral expenditure by the 14 Authority, 15 (j) such other expenditure as may be prescribed by the 16 regulations. 17 (2) For the purposes of this Act, expenditure on factual advertising 18 of the following is not electoral expenditure: 19 (a) meetings to be held for the purpose of selecting persons for 20 nomination as candidates for election, 21 (b) meetings for organisational purposes of parties, branches 22 of parties or conferences, committees or other bodies of 23 parties or branches of parties, 24 (c) any other matter involving predominantly the 25 administration of parties or conferences, committees or 26 other bodies of parties or branches of parties. 27 Division 2 Disclosure of political donations and 28 electoral expenditure 29 88 Disclosures required to be made 30 (1) Parties, members, groups and candidates 31 Disclosure is required under this Part of political donations 32 received, and electoral expenditure incurred, by or on behalf of 33 the following during the relevant disclosure period: 34 (a) a party (whether or not a registered party), 35 (b) an elected member, 36 Page 14

 


 

Election Funding Amendment (Political Donations and Expenditure) Bill 2008 Amendments Schedule 1 (c) a group, 1 (d) a candidate. 2 (2) Major political donors 3 Disclosure is required under this Part of reportable political 4 donations made or received, and electoral expenditure incurred, 5 by an entity or other person (not being a party, elected member, 6 group or candidate) who has, during the relevant disclosure 7 period: 8 (a) made a reportable political donation of or exceeding 9 $1,000, or 10 (b) incurred electoral expenditure of or exceeding $1,000. 11 (3) Single declaration of disclosures by party and its members 12 The regulations may provide for a single declaration of 13 disclosures by an agent of a party relating to the party and to 14 elected members and candidates (and groups of candidates) who 15 are members of the party. The disclosures relating to the party 16 and to each member, candidate or group are to be separately 17 identified. 18 (4) Disclosure is required even if the entity or person has ceased to 19 be a party, elected member, candidate or group (as the case 20 requires) at the time the disclosure is required to be made, so long 21 as the entity or person was a party, elected member, candidate or 22 group at any time during the relevant disclosure period. 23 Note. See section 84 (2) for extension of disclosure and other 24 requirements to individuals who accept donations before they nominate 25 or register as candidates or groups. 26 89 Relevant disclosure period 27 (1) For the purposes of this Part, the relevant disclosure period is 28 each 6-month period ending on 30 June and on 31 December. 29 (2) In the case of a candidate, the first relevant disclosure period for 30 the candidate registered for an election (the current election) 31 includes the period commencing on: 32 (a) if the candidate was registered at any time in the Register 33 of Candidates for the previous general election--the 31st 34 day after polling day for that previous general election, or 35 (b) if the candidate was registered at any time in the Register 36 of Candidates for a by-election (not being the current 37 election) following the previous general election--the 31st 38 day after polling day for that by-election, or 39 Page 15

 


 

Election Funding Amendment (Political Donations and Expenditure) Bill 2008 Schedule 1 Amendments (c) the day that is 12 months before the day on which the 1 candidate was nominated for election at the current 2 election, 3 whichever first occurs, but not including a period during which 4 he or she was an elected member. 5 Note. The transitional provisions (Part 5 of Schedule 2) make special 6 provision for the first relevant disclosure period. 7 90 Person responsible for making disclosures 8 The person who is responsible for making a disclosure required 9 under this Part is as follows: 10 (a) in the case of a party--the party agent, 11 (b) in the case of an elected member--the official agent of the 12 member, 13 (c) in the case of a group or candidate--the official agent of 14 the group or candidate, 15 (d) in the case of a major political donor--the political donor. 16 91 When and how disclosures to be made 17 (1) Disclosures under this Part are to be made within 8 weeks after 18 the end of each relevant disclosure period (or within such other 19 period as may be prescribed by the regulations). 20 Note. Unless otherwise prescribed, disclosures are to be made before 21 26 February for the period ending on 31 December in the previous year, 22 and before 26 August for the period ending on 30 June in that year. See 23 section 96L for the extension of the due date for making disclosures in 24 particular cases, and section 96M for the amendment of disclosures that 25 have been made. 26 (2) Disclosures are to be made in a declaration lodged with the 27 Authority in the form and manner approved by the Authority 28 (except as provided by this section). 29 (3) A particular political donation is not required to be disclosed in 30 such a declaration if the disclosure of the donation has been made 31 on a website maintained by the Authority for that purpose, but 32 only if: 33 (a) the donation is of a category that is authorised to be so 34 disclosed according to the directions on that website, and 35 (b) the disclosure is made in accordance with those directions. 36 The regulations may make provision with respect to any such 37 website. 38 Page 16

 


 

Election Funding Amendment (Political Donations and Expenditure) Bill 2008 Amendments Schedule 1 (4) A declaration lodged under this section is to contain a statement 1 to the effect that all disclosures required to be made in relation to 2 the relevant disclosure period have been made. 3 (5) A declaration is required to be lodged under this section even if 4 it does not contain any disclosures (unless all the disclosures 5 required to be made have been made under subsection (3) on the 6 website maintained by the Authority). 7 (6) Disclosures in a declaration lodged under this section, or made 8 on a website maintained by the Authority, are required to be 9 vouched for in the manner prescribed by the regulations. 10 Note. Sections 110 and 110A contain investigative powers to enable the 11 Authority to investigate compliance with the disclosure requirements 12 under this Part. 13 92 Political donations required to be disclosed 14 (1) General 15 Political donations are to be disclosed in accordance with this 16 section. 17 (2) Reportable political donations 18 Disclosure of reportable political donations is to include 19 disclosure of the following details of each such donation made 20 during the relevant disclosure period: 21 (a) the party, elected member, group or candidate to or for 22 whose benefit the donation was made (or, if the case 23 requires, the major political donor to whom the donation 24 was made), 25 (b) the date on which the donation was made, 26 (c) the name of the donor, 27 (d) the residential address of the donor (in the case of an 28 individual) or the address of the registered or other official 29 office of the donor (in the case of an entity), 30 (e) the amount of the donation, 31 (f) in the case of a donor that is an entity and not an 32 individual--the Australian Business Number of the entity. 33 (3) Small donations 34 Disclosure of political donations (that are not reportable political 35 donations) is to include disclosure of: 36 (a) the total amount of those donations during the relevant 37 disclosure period, and 38 Page 17

 


 

Election Funding Amendment (Political Donations and Expenditure) Bill 2008 Schedule 1 Amendments (b) the total number of persons who made those donations. 1 This subsection does not apply to disclosures by major political 2 donors. 3 (4) Annual party membership or affiliation subscriptions 4 Disclosure by a party of political donations is to include 5 disclosure of: 6 (a) the total amount of annual or other subscriptions paid to 7 the party by members or affiliates of the party during the 8 relevant disclosure period, and 9 (b) each subscription rate, and 10 (c) the number of members who paid the subscriptions at each 11 such rate. 12 Disclosure of any such subscription is not required if it is 13 disclosed as a reportable political donation. 14 (5) Fund-raising ventures or functions 15 Disclosure of political donations is to include, in connection with 16 fund-raising ventures or functions during the relevant disclosure 17 period: 18 (a) either the net or gross proceeds of each such venture or 19 function (together with a disclosure as to whether the 20 amount is the net or gross proceeds), and 21 (b) details of each such venture or function (including a brief 22 description of its nature and the date on which or period in 23 which it was held), 24 but not including any amount of those proceeds that is separately 25 disclosed as a political donation. 26 (6) Loans 27 Disclosure of reportable political donations is to include 28 disclosure of the amount and lender of any reportable loan under 29 section 96G. 30 (7) Discretionary disclosures 31 Details of a political donation may be disclosed under this Part 32 even if they are not required to be disclosed under this section. 33 93 Electoral expenditure required to be disclosed 34 (1) Electoral expenditure required to be disclosed under this Part is 35 all expenditure for or in connection with promoting or opposing, 36 directly or indirectly, a party or the election of a candidate or 37 Page 18

 


 

Election Funding Amendment (Political Donations and Expenditure) Bill 2008 Amendments Schedule 1 candidates or for the purpose of influencing, directly or 1 indirectly, the voting at an election. 2 Note. See section 87 for definition of "electoral expenditure". 3 (2) The obligation under this Part to disclose any such expenditure of 4 a party in relation to any period can be complied with by lodging 5 with the Authority a copy of a return furnished to the Electoral 6 Commission by the agent of the party under section 314AB of the 7 Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 of the Commonwealth in 8 respect of that period. 9 94 Separate disclosures not required of same item 10 (1) An item disclosed under this Part in relation to an elected member 11 need not be also disclosed in the member's capacity as a candidate 12 or as a member of a group, and an item disclosed under this Part 13 in relation to a candidate or a group that includes the candidate 14 need not be also disclosed in the candidate's capacity as an 15 elected member. 16 (2) An item disclosed under this Part in relation to a group need not 17 be also disclosed in relation to a member of the group, and an 18 item disclosed under this Part in relation to a candidate need not 19 be also disclosed in relation to the group of which the candidate 20 is a member. 21 95 Public access to disclosures, expenditure etc 22 (1) The Authority is to publish on a website maintained by the 23 Authority the disclosures of reportable political donations and 24 electoral expenditure under this Part (and other information it 25 considers relevant). 26 (2) The disclosures are to be published on the website as soon as 27 practicable after the due date for the making of the disclosures. 28 (3) The Authority may decline to publish on the website any 29 disclosure of political donations by a major political donor that 30 the Authority has reason to suspect is vexatious, false or 31 misleading. 32 (4) Copies of disclosures made in a declaration under this Part are to 33 be kept by the Authority for at least 6 years after the period to 34 which they relate and are to be available for public inspection 35 during ordinary office hours. 36 (5) The Authority may, on application made to it and the payment of 37 a reasonable fee determined by the Authority, provide copies of 38 or extracts from any such disclosures kept by the Authority. 39 Page 19

 


 

Election Funding Amendment (Political Donations and Expenditure) Bill 2008 Schedule 1 Amendments Division 3 Management of donations and expenditure 1 96 Requirements in relation to expenditure of political donations to 2 parties 3 (1) It is unlawful for political donations to a party to be used 4 otherwise than for the objects and activities of the party, 5 including the administration of the party and community 6 activities. 7 (2) In particular, it is unlawful for political donations to be used for 8 the personal use of an individual acting in a private capacity. 9 96A Requirements for political donations to, and electoral expenditure 10 by, elected member, group or candidate 11 (1) It is unlawful for political donations to an elected member to be 12 accepted unless: 13 (a) the member has an official agent, and 14 (b) the donations are made to that agent. 15 (2) It is unlawful for political donations to a group or candidate to be 16 accepted unless: 17 (a) the group or candidate is registered under this Act, and 18 (b) the group or candidate has an official agent, and 19 (c) the donations are made to that agent. 20 (3) It is unlawful for political donations to an elected member, group 21 or candidate to be used to incur electoral expenditure or 22 reimburse a person for incurring electoral expenditure unless: 23 (a) the donations were paid by the official agent into a 24 campaign account of the member, group or candidate kept 25 in accordance with section 96B, and 26 (b) the payment for that electoral expenditure is made by that 27 agent from that campaign account. 28 (4) Subject to the regulations, a person (other than an elected 29 member or candidate) may be appointed in writing by an official 30 agent to accept political donations to be made to the official agent 31 or to make payments for electoral expenditure from a campaign 32 account by the official agent, or both. 33 (5) It is unlawful for elected members, groups or candidates to make 34 payments for electoral expenditure for their own election or 35 re-election unless the payments are made from their campaign 36 Page 20

 


 

Election Funding Amendment (Political Donations and Expenditure) Bill 2008 Amendments Schedule 1 account kept in accordance with section 96B. The guidelines of 1 the Authority may exclude minor payments from the operation of 2 this subsection. 3 (6) It is unlawful for political donations to an elected member, group 4 or candidate to be used otherwise than: 5 (a) to incur electoral expenditure or reimburse a person for 6 incurring electoral expenditure, or 7 (b) for any other purpose authorised by this Act. 8 Note. See section 96B (5). 9 (7) Despite anything to the contrary in this section, it is not unlawful 10 for an elected member, group or candidate to accept political 11 donations and incur electoral expenditure without a campaign 12 account if: 13 (a) the political donations are not reportable political 14 donations and the total amount of those donations for the 15 election period does not exceed $1,000, or 16 (b) the political donations are not reportable political 17 donations and the total amount of electoral expenditure for 18 the election period does not exceed $1,000, or 19 (c) the regulations authorise the member, group or candidate 20 to do so. 21 The election period includes the period ending 30 days after the 22 polling day for the election and also includes the period 23 commencing 30 days after polling day for the previous general 24 election for the State or local government area, as the case 25 requires. 26 Note. See also section 49 which provides for the candidate to be his or 27 her own official agent when a campaign account is not required. 28 Disclosure of political donations and electoral expenditure is still 29 required even if a campaign account is not required under this 30 subsection. 31 96B Campaign accounts of elected members, groups or candidates 32 (1) The campaign account of an elected member, group or candidate 33 is to be a separate account with a bank, credit union, building 34 society or other entity prescribed by the regulations. 35 (2) The official agent for the time being of the elected member, 36 group or candidate to whom the account belongs is to be 37 authorised to operate the account, and that member, group or 38 candidate is not to operate the account. 39 Page 21

 


 

Election Funding Amendment (Political Donations and Expenditure) Bill 2008 Schedule 1 Amendments (3) A single account may be kept for a number of elected members, 1 groups or candidates with the same official agent if the funds of 2 (and relevant transactions relating to) each member, group or 3 candidate are accounted for separately. This subsection has effect 4 despite subsection (1) but subject to the regulations under 5 subsection (7). 6 (4) In addition to political donations, money may be paid into a 7 campaign account by the elected member, group or candidate to 8 whom the account belongs. In that case, the amount paid and the 9 terms on which the payment was made are to be disclosed in the 10 relevant declaration lodged under this Part for the period in which 11 the amount was paid. 12 Note. Section 77 (2A) requires election funding payments under Part 5 13 for a candidate or group to be paid into the relevant campaign account. 14 (5) Payments out of a campaign account may only be made: 15 (a) for the purposes of electoral expenditure incurred by or on 16 behalf of the elected member, group or candidate to whom 17 the account belongs, or 18 (b) with the approval of the elected member, group or 19 candidate to whom the account belongs, for the purposes 20 of lawful expenditure referred to in section 96 incurred by 21 or on behalf of the party of which they are a member, or 22 (c) to reimburse the elected member, group or candidate for 23 money paid into the account by the member, group or 24 candidate, or 25 (d) for the purpose of the elected member, group or candidate 26 to whom the account belongs to make political donations 27 to elected members, groups or candidates who are 28 members of the same party, or 29 (e) for the purposes of expenditure incurred in connection 30 with parliamentary or council duties of the person to whom 31 the account belongs or in connection with community 32 activities. 33 (6) Any amount remaining in a campaign account after the elected 34 member, group or candidate to whom the account belongs ceases 35 to be an elected member, group or candidate and no longer 36 requires the account is to be paid: 37 (a) to any party of which any such person was a member at the 38 time the person last became an elected member or last 39 contested an election to become an elected member, or 40 Page 22

 


 

Election Funding Amendment (Political Donations and Expenditure) Bill 2008 Amendments Schedule 1 (b) in the case of a group--to the campaign accounts (if any) 1 belonging to the candidates who were members of the 2 group (the amount being divided equally among the 3 candidates), or 4 (c) subject to paragraphs (a) and (b)--to a charity nominated 5 by the person or by the Authority (if the person cannot be 6 contacted after due inquiry). 7 (7) The regulations may make provision for or with respect to 8 campaign accounts (including the control of accounts, the 9 keeping of joint accounts and the provision of information to and 10 the audit of accounts by the Authority). 11 96C Person accepting reportable political donations to record details 12 (1) It is unlawful for a person to accept a reportable political donation 13 that is required to be disclosed under this Part unless the person: 14 (a) makes a record of the details required to be disclosed under 15 this Part in relation to the donation, and 16 (b) provides a receipt for the donation (being a receipt that 17 includes a statement required by the regulation as to the 18 circumstances in which the donor is obliged to disclose the 19 donation under this Part). 20 Note. Section 96I (2) requires the above record to be kept for at least 21 3 years. 22 (2) This section does not apply to a political donation that is not a 23 reportable political donation at the time it is made. 24 Note. Political donations of less than $1,000 may become reportable 25 political donations if separate donations by the same person in the same 26 financial year exceed $1,000. 27 Division 4 Prohibition of certain political donations etc 28 96D Prohibition on donations from entities without ABN 29 It is unlawful for a person to accept a reportable political donation 30 that is required to be disclosed under this Part unless: 31 (a) it is made by an individual, or 32 (b) it is made by an entity that has an Australian Business 33 Number (ABN). 34 96E Prohibition on certain indirect campaign contributions 35 (1) It is unlawful for a person to make any of the following indirect 36 campaign contributions to a party, elected member, group or 37 candidate: 38 Page 23

 


 

Election Funding Amendment (Political Donations and Expenditure) Bill 2008 Schedule 1 Amendments (a) the provision of office accommodation, vehicles, 1 computers or other equipment for no consideration or 2 inadequate consideration for use solely or substantially for 3 election campaign purposes, 4 (b) the full or part payment by a person other than the party, 5 elected member, group or candidate of electoral 6 expenditure for advertising or other purposes incurred or to 7 be incurred by the party, elected member, group or 8 candidate (or an agreement to make such a payment), 9 (c) the waiving of all or any part of payment to the person by 10 the party, elected member, group or candidate of electoral 11 expenditure for advertising incurred or to be incurred by 12 the party, elected member, group or candidate, 13 (d) any other goods or services of a kind prohibited by the 14 regulations. 15 Electoral expenditure for advertising is taken to be incurred by a 16 party, elected member, group or candidate if the advertising is 17 authorised by the party, elected member, group or candidate. 18 (2) It is unlawful for a person to accept any such indirect campaign 19 contribution. 20 (3) However, an indirect campaign contribution prohibited by this 21 section does not include: 22 (a) the provision of volunteer labour or the incidental or 23 ancillary use of vehicles or equipment of volunteers or 24 other things authorised by the guidelines of the Authority, 25 or 26 (b) anything provided or done by a party for the candidates 27 endorsed by the party in accordance with arrangements 28 made by the party agent of the party, or 29 (c) anything provided or done whose value as a gift does not 30 exceed $1,000 unless the total value of all such things 31 provided or done by the same person over the same 32 financial year (ending 30 June) exceeds $1,000, or 33 (d) a payment under Part 5 or 6A, or 34 (e) any other thing of a kind permitted by the regulations. 35 96F Prohibition on receiving gifts of unknown source 36 It is unlawful for a person to accept a reportable political donation 37 that is required to be disclosed under this Part unless: 38 (a) the name and address of the person who made the donation 39 are known to the person accepting the donation, and 40 Page 24

 


 

Election Funding Amendment (Political Donations and Expenditure) Bill 2008 Amendments Schedule 1 (b) when the donation is made, the person making the 1 donation gives to the person accepting the donation his or 2 her name and address, and the person accepting the 3 donation has no grounds to believe that the name and 4 address so given are not the true name and address of the 5 person making the donation. 6 96G Prohibition on receiving loans unless details recorded 7 (1) It is unlawful for a person to receive a reportable loan (other than 8 a loan from a financial institution), unless the person makes a 9 record of the following: 10 (a) the terms and conditions of the loan, 11 (b) the name and address of the entity or other person making 12 the loan. 13 (2) A reportable loan is a loan that, if it had been a gift, would be a 14 reportable political donation that is required to be disclosed under 15 this Part. 16 (3) For the purposes of this section: 17 (a) separate loans made by one entity or other person to the 18 same party, elected member, group, candidate or person 19 within a relevant disclosure period are to be aggregated 20 and treated as a single loan, and 21 (b) each transaction in which credit is provided by the use of a 22 credit card is taken to be a separate loan. 23 (4) In this section: 24 financial institution means an entity whose principal business is 25 the provision of financial services or financial products, and 26 includes a bank, credit union, building society or other entity 27 prescribed by the regulations. 28 loan means an advance of money, the provision of credit or any 29 other transaction that in substance effects a loan of money. 30 Division 5 Miscellaneous 31 96H Offences relating to disclosures 32 (1) A person who is required to lodge a declaration under section 91 33 but who fails to do so within the time required by this Part is 34 guilty of an offence. 35 Maximum penalty: 200 penalty units. 36 Page 25

 


 

Election Funding Amendment (Political Donations and Expenditure) Bill 2008 Schedule 1 Amendments (2) A person who makes a statement: 1 (a) in a declaration or other disclosure under this Part, or 2 (b) in a request under this Part for an extension of the due date 3 for making the disclosure, 4 that the person knows is false, or that the person does not 5 reasonably believe is true, is guilty of an offence. 6 Maximum penalty: 200 penalty units or imprisonment for 7 12 months, or both. 8 (3) An elected member, member of a group or candidate who, in 9 relation to a matter required to be disclosed under this Part by the 10 official agent of the elected member, group or candidate, gives or 11 withholds information to or from the agent knowing that it will 12 result in the making of a false statement in a disclosure or request 13 under this Part by the agent is guilty of an offence. 14 Maximum penalty: 200 penalty units. 15 96I Other offences 16 (1) A person who does any act knowing that it is unlawful under 17 Division 3 or 4 is guilty of an offence. 18 (2) A person who fails to keep for at least 3 years: 19 (a) a record made by the person under section 96C relating to 20 a reportable political donation, or 21 (b) any other record that is required by the regulations to be 22 kept by the person for that period, 23 is guilty of an offence. 24 Maximum penalty: In the case of a party, 200 penalty units or in 25 any other case, 100 penalty units. 26 96J Recovery of unlawful donations etc 27 If a person accepts a political donation, loan or indirect campaign 28 contribution that is unlawful because of this Part, an amount 29 equal to the amount or value of the donation, loan or contribution 30 (or double that amount if that person knew that it was unlawful) 31 is payable by that person to the State and may be recovered by the 32 Authority as a debt due to the State from: 33 (a) in the case of a donation, loan or contribution received by 34 a party that is a body corporate--the party, or 35 (b) in the case of a donation, loan or contribution received by 36 a party that is not a body corporate--the party agent of the 37 party, or 38 Page 26

 


 

Election Funding Amendment (Political Donations and Expenditure) Bill 2008 Amendments Schedule 1 (c) in any other case--the person who received the donation, 1 loan or contribution or the official agent of the person. 2 96K Audit certificate 3 (1) A declaration of disclosures under this Part (other than a 4 declaration lodged by a major political donor) is to be 5 accompanied by a certificate of an auditor stating: 6 (a) that the auditor was given full and free access at all 7 reasonable times to all accounts and documents of the 8 agent responsible for lodging the declaration and of the 9 party, elected member, group or candidate (as the case 10 requires) relating directly or indirectly to any matter 11 required to be disclosed under this Part, and 12 (b) that the auditor duly examined such of those accounts and 13 documents as the auditor considered material for the 14 purposes of giving the certificate, and 15 (c) that the auditor received all information and explanations 16 that the auditor asked for with respect to any matter 17 required to be set out in the declaration, subject to the 18 qualifications (if any) specified in the certificate, and 19 (d) that the auditor has no reason to think that any statement in 20 the declaration is not correct. 21 (2) Subsection (1) does not apply to a declaration lodged in relation 22 to a group or candidate if the regulations exempt, or the Authority 23 waives, compliance with the audit requirement for the disclosure. 24 (3) The Authority may waive compliance with the audit requirement 25 in either of the following cases: 26 (a) where the declaration contains a statement to the effect that 27 no political donations were received and no electoral 28 expenditure was incurred, 29 (b) where the group or candidate to whom the declaration 30 relates is not eligible to receive a payment under Part 5. 31 (4) Such a waiver is at the discretion of the Authority, and may be 32 made before or after the disclosure is made. 33 (5) The Authority may revoke the waiver at any time. Revocation 34 does not affect the validity of a declaration already lodged, unless 35 the required certificate of an auditor is not forwarded to the 36 Authority within the time specified by the Authority. 37 (6) A declaration that is required by this section to be accompanied 38 by a certificate is not duly lodged under this Part unless it is 39 accompanied by the certificate. 40 Page 27

 


 

Election Funding Amendment (Political Donations and Expenditure) Bill 2008 Schedule 1 Amendments 96L Extension of due date for making disclosures 1 (1) A person who is required to lodge a declaration of disclosures 2 under this Part but who is unable to lodge a complete declaration 3 by the due date may, before that date, request the Authority to 4 extend the due date for lodging the declaration. 5 (2) The Authority may, if satisfied that there is good cause to do so, 6 extend the due date for the lodging of the declaration to a date that 7 the Authority considers appropriate in the circumstances. 8 (3) The due date for lodging a declaration cannot be extended or 9 further extended under this section by more than 8 weeks in total. 10 (4) The Authority may, as a condition of extending the due date, 11 require the person to lodge a declaration containing disclosures 12 that the person is in a position to make at that time. 13 96M Amendment of disclosures 14 (1) The person who lodged a declaration under this Part (or that 15 person's successor as the agent of the party, elected member, 16 group or candidate concerned) may amend the declaration by 17 lodging an amended declaration with the Authority. 18 (2) The obligations under section 95 (Public access to disclosures, 19 expenditure etc) and section 96K (Audit certificate) extend to 20 both the original and any amended declaration. 21 (3) This section does not affect the liability for an offence in 22 connection with the declaration that is amended. 23 (4) In this section: 24 amend includes alter, omit, add or substitute. 25 declaration includes a disclosure made in accordance with this 26 Part on the website of the Authority. 27 [35] Part 6A Political Education Fund, section 97AB 28 Insert after section 97A: 29 97AB Application to State elections only 30 (1) This Part does not apply to or in relation to local government 31 elections. 32 (2) Accordingly, a reference in this Part to an election or general 33 election is a reference that relates to a State election. 34 Page 28

 


 

Election Funding Amendment (Political Donations and Expenditure) Bill 2008 Amendments Schedule 1 [36] Section 109 Certain persons not to be auditors 1 Omit "A candidate or registered agent". 2 Insert instead "An elected member, a candidate, a party agent or an official 3 agent". 4 [37] Section 110 Inspection 5 Omit paragraph (b) of the definition of inspector in section 110 (1). 6 Insert instead: 7 (b) who is not so employed but is subject to the control and 8 direction of the Authority in relation to any function under 9 this section, 10 [38] Section 110 (2) (a) and (3) (a) 11 Insert ", elected member" after "party" wherever occurring. 12 [39] Section 110 (6) 13 Omit "section 93". Insert instead "section 96K". 14 [40] Section 110 (7) 15 Omit "a person has failed to lodge a declaration as required by section 85A 16 (Obligation of individuals to make disclosure)". 17 Insert instead "a major political donor has failed to make a disclosure required 18 under Part 6". 19 [41] Section 110 (7) 20 Omit "the person". Insert instead "the donor". 21 [42] Section 110 (8) 22 Insert after section 110 (7): 23 (8) The Authority may request any person to provide it with relevant 24 information for the purposes of compliance audits in connection 25 with disclosures under Part 6. 26 [43] Section 110A Power to demand information of major political donors 27 regarding failures to disclose 28 Omit "a person has failed to lodge a declaration relating to electoral 29 expenditure as required by section 85A" from section 110A (1). 30 Insert instead "a major political donor has failed to make a disclosure required 31 under Part 6". 32 Page 29

 


 

Election Funding Amendment (Political Donations and Expenditure) Bill 2008 Schedule 1 Amendments [44] Section 110A (1) (a) 1 Omit "the person". Insert instead "the donor". 2 [45] Section 117 Regulations 3 Omit "political contributions" from section 117 (1) (a). 4 Insert instead "political donations". 5 [46] Section 117 (1) (a) and (4) 6 Insert ", elected members" after "parties" wherever occurring. 7 [47] Section 117 (1) (a1) and (a2) 8 Insert after section 117 (1) (a): 9 (a1) requiring the agents of parties, elected members, groups or 10 candidates to obtain valuations from a valuer approved by 11 the Authority of political donations that are not gifts of 12 money (or enabling the Authority to obtain any such 13 valuations), and 14 (a2) compliance audits by or on behalf of the Authority in 15 connection with disclosures under Part 6, and 16 [48] Schedule 2 Transitional provisions 17 Insert before Part 1: 18 Part 1A Regulations 19 1A Regulations 20 (1) The regulations may contain provisions of a savings or 21 transitional nature consequent on the enactment of the following 22 Acts: 23 Election Funding Amendment (Political Donations and 24 Expenditure) Act 2008 25 (2) Any such provision may, if the regulations so provide, take effect 26 from the date of assent to the Act concerned or a later date. 27 (3) To the extent to which any such provision takes effect from a date 28 that is earlier than the date of its publication in the Gazette, the 29 provision does not operate so as: 30 (a) to affect, in a manner prejudicial to any person (other than 31 the State or an authority of the State), the rights of that 32 person existing before the date of its publication, or 33 Page 30

 


 

Election Funding Amendment (Political Donations and Expenditure) Bill 2008 Amendments Schedule 1 (b) to impose liabilities on any person (other than the State or 1 an authority of the State) in respect of anything done or 2 omitted to be done before the date of its publication. 3 (4) The regulations under this clause have effect despite anything to 4 the contrary in this Schedule. 5 [49] Schedule 2, Part 5 6 Insert after Part 4: 7 Part 5 Provisions consequent on enactment of 8 Election Funding Amendment (Political 9 Donations and Expenditure) Act 2008 10 16 Definitions 11 In this Part: 12 amending Act means the Election Funding Amendment 13 (Political Donations and Expenditure) Act 2008. 14 last disclosure date means: 15 (a) in relation to a party registered under the Parliamentary 16 Electorates and Elections Act 1912 and in relation to State 17 elections--23 April 2007, or 18 (b) in relation to a party registered under the Local 19 Government Act 1993 and in relation to local government 20 elections--the date that is 30 days after the election date 21 for the last ordinary council election. 22 17 First relevant disclosure period--parties, elected members, 23 groups or candidates 24 For the purposes of Part 6 of this Act, the first relevant disclosure 25 period in relation to: 26 (a) parties, or 27 (b) elected members, or 28 (c) groups or candidates, 29 is the period commencing on the day after the last disclosure date 30 and ending on 30 June 2008. 31 Note. The disclosures for that first relevant disclosure period are to be 32 made, subject to the regulations, within 8 weeks after the end of that 33 period (ie before 26 August 2008). Section 95 (2) requires the Authority 34 to publish the declaration of disclosures for that first relevant disclosure 35 period on the website of the Authority as soon as practicable after that 36 Page 31

 


 

Election Funding Amendment (Political Donations and Expenditure) Bill 2008 Schedule 1 Amendments date. Candidates required to make disclosures include persons who 1 have accepted political donations for the 2008 local government 2 elections even if they have not yet nominated for election or registered 3 as a candidate (see section 84 (2)). 4 18 First relevant disclosure period--major political donors 5 For the purposes of Part 6 of this Act, the first relevant disclosure 6 period (except where clause 17 applies) is the 6-month period 7 ending on 31 December 2008, and including the period 8 commencing on the day after the last disclosure date and ending 9 at the beginning of that 6-month period. 10 19 Date on which new requirements for receipt and management of 11 political donations and electoral expenditure have effect 12 (1) The requirements of the following provisions do not have effect 13 until 1 August 2008: 14 (a) section 96A (Requirements for political donations to, and 15 electoral expenditure by, elected member, group or 16 candidate), 17 (b) section 96B (Campaign accounts of elected members, 18 groups or candidates), 19 (c) section 96C (Person accepting reportable political 20 donations to record details), 21 (d) Division 4 (Prohibition of certain political donations). 22 (2) After the date those provisions have effect in relation to a party, 23 elected member, candidate or group, section 96A extends to the 24 use of political donations made before that date to incur electoral 25 expenditure or reimbursing a person for incurring electoral 26 expenditure after that date. 27 Note. Subclause (2) will operate to require political donations made but 28 not spent before the relevant date for the establishment of campaign 29 accounts to be paid into the relevant campaign account if the money is 30 to be spent on electoral expenditure. 31 Page 32

 


 

Election Funding Amendment (Political Donations and Expenditure) Bill 2008 Amendments Schedule 1 (3) The Authority may, if satisfied there is good cause to do so, 1 waive compliance with those provisions, in any particular case or 2 class of cases, in relation to matters arising during the period 3 ending on the date that is 30 days after the election date for the 4 ordinary council election in 2008. Any such waiver may be given 5 before or after the date on which the provision is required to be 6 complied with, and may be given subject to any conditions 7 specified by the Authority. 8 Page 33

 


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