AECMedia

2023 referendum financial disclosure returns to be published on Tuesday 2 April 2024

Updated: 26 March 2024

The 2023 referendum was the first referendum subject to the changes of the Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Amendment Act 2023 which came into effect on 27 March 2023.

The amendments to the Referendum Act established a financial disclosure framework for referendums based on Part XX of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918, designed to increase the transparency of funding of those involved in referendum campaigning, as well as limit foreign influence in referendums.

The changes to the Referendum (Machinery Provision) Act 1984 (Referendum Act), included:

  • an expanded definition of referendum matter
  • a definition for referendum expenditure and a referendum expenditure period
  • disclosure obligations for referendum entities and referendum donors
  • a disclosure threshold of $15,200
  • restrictions on foreign donations.

The 2023 referendum disclosure returns from referendum entities and donors to referendum entities will be available for public inspection after 9am (AEDT) on Tuesday 2 April 2024.

The 2023 referendum returns will be available on the AEC’s Transparency Register at https://transparency.aec.gov.au/.

What is the register and how does it work?

The Transparency Register is a database of financial disclosure information, allowing users to apply multiple filters to refine their search. It also includes images of the original returns and a data-export function to enable users to undertake additional analysis of the data outside the Register.

If you are not familiar with the Transparency Register you can view the site ahead of time. Prior to 2 April 2024, the system will only have information available for previous financial year annual disclosure returns and election returns.

Any questions on the navigation of the Transparency Register should be directed to the AEC’s funding and disclosure helpdesk on 02 6271 4552.

Editor’s notes:

  • The referendum disclosure scheme requires persons or entities that incurred referendum expenditure, or donations to referendum entities, above the disclosure threshold to lodge financial disclosure returns with the AEC.
  • The disclosure threshold for the 2023 referendum was set at the date the amendments to the Referendum Act received royal assent, being 27 March 2023. This date is in the 2022-23 financial year, determining that the disclosure threshold for the 2023 referendum was $15,200.
  • The referendum disclosure period commenced 6 months prior to the date of the issue of the writ for the 2023 referendum. The writ was issued on 11 September 2023. Therefore, the referendum expenditure period started on 11 March 2023 and ended on 14 October 2023. Any transactions made before 11 March 2023 or after 14 October 2023 are not required by the Referendum Act to be disclosed.
  • Disclosure entities that lodge annual disclosure returns could also be a referendum entity for the purposes of the disclosure requirements of the Referendum Act.
  • Expenditure and donations related to a referendum, and reported in a referendum return, may also be required to be reported in an annual return.
  • Further information on the referendum disclosure scheme is available at https://www.aec.gov.au/Parties_and_Representatives/referendum_disclosure/.

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