You may be required to register with the AEC if you incur significant expenditure in seeking to influence voters in an election, or if you have some kind of connection with a registered political party (such as being controlled by or operating for the benefit of a registered political party).
On 13 December 2021, the Electoral Legislation Amendment (Political Campaigners) Act 2021 received Royal Assent. Some changes resulting from the Political Campaigners Act may require action by 14 March 2022. Detailed information is available on the Financial disclosure legislative changes page.
Persons or entities are required to register as a significant third party when:
Electoral expenditure refers to expenditure incurred for the dominant purpose of creating or communicating electoral matter. Further details on electoral expenditure can be found at the Electoral Expenditure and Electoral Matter fact sheet.
If you are currently registered as a political campaigner on the Transparency Register, you will not be required to re-register as a significant third party. You will be automatically categorised as a significant third party on the Transparency Register.
If you are not currently registered as a political campaigner and if you meet the requirements for registering as a significant third party you are required to register as a significant third party within 90 days of becoming required to register.
As the Political Campaigners Act commenced on 14 December 2021, registration as a significant third party, for those that meet the requirements, is required by 14 March 2022.
A significant third party must appoint a financial controller at the time of registration, using the Application to register as a significant third party form.
The financial controller is responsible for lodging the annual return.
The significant third party and financial controller’s names will be included in the Transparency Register.
Persons or entities are required to register as an associated entity when:
Examples of associated entities include '500 clubs', 'think tanks', registered clubs, service companies, trade unions and corporate party members.
If you are not currently registered as an associated entity and if you meet the requirements for registering as an associated entity you are required to register as an associated entity within 90 days of becoming required to register.
As the Political Campaigners Act commenced on 14 December 2021, registration as an associated entity, for those that meet the requirement, is required by 14 March 2022.
An associated entity must appoint a financial controller at the time of registration, using the Application to register as an Associated Entity form.
The financial controller is responsible for lodging the annual return.
The associated entity and financial controller’s names will be included in the Transparency Register, as well as the names of associated registered political parties.
Significant third parties and associated entities are required to update registration details via the Change to Transparency Register form within 90 days of the change occurring. Details listed on the Transparency Register are otherwise accepted as correct until proven otherwise.
If you need assistance please email fad@aec.gov.au, or alternatively call the Funding and Disclosure help desk on (02) 6271 4552.
A person or entity that is registered as a significant third party or an associated entity may apply to the Electoral Commissioner to be deregistered under s 287M of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918.
An application to deregister should only be made by a significant third party or associated entity that is no longer required to be registered.
An application to deregister can be made via the approved form:
If you need assistance please email fad@aec.gov.au or phone Funding and Disclosure on (02) 6271 4552.
Not registering as a significant third party will incur a civil penalty whichever is the higher of the following amounts:
Not registering an associated entity will incur a civil penalty whichever is the higher of the following amounts: