If you’re giving money or something of value to support a political party, candidate or campaign in a Tasmanian parliamentary election, you may be making a political donation. Depending on the amount and who it’s given to, you may have legal obligations under Tasmania’s Electoral Disclosure and Funding Act 2023.
The information below explains when a donor becomes a significant political donor, what a reportable political donation is, and what disclosure and recordkeeping rules apply.
A political donation is a gift made to, or for the benefit of, a political party; or a gift made to a member, candidate, associated entity, or third-party campaigner for an election.
A more detailed definition is provided on the political donations page.
Political donors have obligations under the Electoral Disclosure and Funding Act 2023, if they become a significant political donor by making a reportable political donation.
A significant political donor is a donor who makes a reportable political donation to or for the benefit of an electoral participant – i.e. a party, member, candidate, associated entity or third-party campaigner in a Tasmanian parliamentary election. A significant political donor can be a corporation, an unincorporated group, or an individual.
A reportable political donation is a political donation of either $1,000 or more as a single donation to an electoral participant, or combined multiple donations totalling $1,000 or more to the same electoral participant within a financial year. Read more about the definition of political donations and reportable political donations.
If you’re making or receiving political donations for a Tasmanian parliamentary election and also incurring electoral expenditure, you may be a third-party campaigner.
A significant political donor has obligations under the Electoral Disclosure and Funding Act 2023. They are:
The disclosure of political donations is made monthly throughout the year, within seven days during election campaign periods, and in total after an election campaign period has ended.
While significant political donors do have disclosure and recordkeeping obligations, they are not required to register as a donor with the Tasmanian Electoral Commission.
Learn more about significant political donors by watching this pre-recorded webinar.
Significant political donors must register an official agent, who will be the person responsible for financial disclosure obligations:
Read more about the role of an official agent and registering as an agent.