2. What to include in an authorisation

Updated: 19 December 2024

The content of an authorisation will depend on:

  • the type of communication and
  • who will approve that content.

To determine what to include in an authorisation, see the summary below or answer the following questions:

Who will be responsible for the communication?

To ensure this question works correctly, please reset the form if you decide to change your answer to any question.

Is the individual a disclosure entity?

Disclosure entities that are also individuals include candidates in an election, Members of the House of Representatives or Senators.

To ensure this question works correctly, please reset the form if you decide to change your answer to any question.

Is the entity a disclosure entity?

A disclosure entity is a registered political party, associated entity, donor, third party, significant third party.

Is the communication either print material or a different type of communication (e.g. social media)?

Is the communication either print material or a different type of communication (e.g. social media)?

The authorisation will need to include the following details:

  • The name of the person
  • The address of the person

The authorisation will need to include the following details:

  • The name of the person
  • The relevant town or city of the person

The authorisation will need to include the following details:

  • The name of the person
  • The address of the person

The authorisation will need to include the following details:

  • The name of the person
  • The relevant town or city of the person

Is the communication either print material or a different type of communication (e.g. social media)?

Is the communication either print material or a different type of communication (e.g. social media)?

The authorisation will need to include the following details:

  • The name of the entity
  • The address of the entity
  • The name of the natural person responsible for giving effect to the authorisation

The authorisation will need to include the following details:

  • The name of the entity
  • The relevant town or city of the entity
  • The name of the natural person responsible for giving effect to the authorisation

The authorisation will need to include the following details:

  • The name of the entity
  • The address of the entity

The authorisation will need to include the following details:

  • The name of the entity
  • The relevant town or city of the entity

Reset form

If... The following information must be included in the authorisation message
the communication is a sticker, fridge magnet, leaflet, flyer, pamphlet, notice, poster or how to vote card authorised by a disclosure entity that is not a natural person (a) the name of the entity;
(b) the address of the entity;
(c) the name of the natural person responsible for giving effect to the authorisation
the communication is any other communication authorised by a disclosure entity that is not a natural person (a) the name of the entity;
(b) the relevant town or city of the entity;
(c) the name of the natural person responsible for giving effect to the authorisation
the communication is a sticker, fridge magnet, leaflet, flyer, pamphlet, notice, poster or how to vote card authorised by a disclosure entity who is a natural person (a) the name of the person;
(b) the address of the person
the communication is any other communication authorised by a disclosure entity who is a natural person (a) the name of the person;
(b) the relevant town or city of the person
the communication is a sticker, fridge magnet, leaflet, flyer, pamphlet, notice, poster or how to vote card authorised by an entity that is not a disclosure entity or a natural person (a) the name of the entity;
(b) the address of the entity
the communication is any other communication authorised by an entity that is not a disclosure entity or a natural person (a) the name of the entity;
(b) the relevant town or city of the entity
the communication is a sticker, fridge magnet, leaflet, flyer, pamphlet, notice, poster or how to vote card authorised by a natural person who is not a disclosure entity (a) the name of the person;
(b) the address of the person
the communication is any other communication authorised by a natural person who is not a disclosure entity (a) the name of the person;
(b) the relevant town or city of the person

Note: under section 321D(5A) or (5B) registered political parties must use either the name of the party as it appears on the Register of Political Parties (registered name) or a condensed version of a registered name. The condensed name can either be a registered abbreviation of a registered branch/division of a political party or the name which results from omitting any of the following words from a registered name:

  • an abbreviation which immediately follows the full form of a word
  • ‘Incorporation’ or its abbreviation, ‘Inc.’
  • ‘of Australia’ or ‘Australia’ (if ‘Australia is the final word of the registered name), or
  • any words or word indicating the name of a registered branch or division for a political party.

For example: the registered name ‘Quokka Party 5 of Australia Inc.—NSW’ may be notified as ‘Quokka Party.’

Disclosure entities that are not registered political parties must use the name which appears on the Transparency Register.

If a street address of a person or entity is required, please note that a PO Box address is not sufficient.

The relevant town or city will depend on the circumstances of the individual or entity authorising the communication:

  • if the authoriser has a principal office, the town or city in which the officer is located; or
  • if the authoriser does not have premises from which the entity operates, the town or city in which the premises of the authoriser is located; or
  • otherwise:
    • the name of the town or city in which the authoriser lives; or
    • for an entity, the name of the town or city of the individual who gives effect to the authorisation lives.

A postcode is not legally required. However it is up to the notifying entity (individual or otherwise) to include particulars additional to what is required under the Electoral Act.

Now that you know what should be included in an authorisation message, find out more about the placement, formatting, and language requirements.

Formatting, placement, and language of an authorisation