The amount of election funding payable is calculated by multiplying the number of formal first preference votes received by the rate of payment applicable at the time. This rate is indexed every six months to increases in line with the Consumer Price Index.

The public funding rate from 1 July 2008 to 31 December 2008 is 218.94 cents per eligible vote.

Recent historical rates

• 2008 Gippsland by-election 214.018 cents
• 2007 federal election 210.027 cents
• 2004 federal election 194.397 cents
• 2001 federal election 179.026 cents