Disclosure of political donations and electoral expenditure

What is disclosure?

A disclosure return is the reporting of all donations, loans, and expenditure incurred for an election campaign. These must be reported to the ECQ under the Electoral Act 1992 and the Local Government Electoral Act 2011. All disclosures are made through the Electronic Disclosure System (EDS) and are available to the public.

Public disclosure ensures the integrity and transparency of political campaign funding in Queensland. The ECQ conducts audits and compliance activities to ensure the integrity of disclosure information. Non-compliance with disclosure laws carries significant penalties.

Who needs to make a disclosure?

Candidates (or their agent)
Groups of candidates (or their agent)
Agents of registered political parties
Financial controllers of associated entities
Third party campaigners
Political donors

How do I make a disclosure?

Disclosures must be lodged via the EDS and can be viewed by the public. Need help using the EDS?

What needs to be disclosed?

All details of donations and loans made, and expenditure incurred towards an election, must be disclosed.

In general, the threshold for disclosure to registered political parties and State candidates is $1,000 (cumulative between January – June, and July – December each year),and $500 (cumulative) for local government elections.

Registered political parties and associated entities have additional reporting obligations. More information can be found on our registered political parties page.

All election participants should be familiar with the requirements that apply to their circumstances.

Notification of approved forms

The following forms have been approved by the Electoral Commissioner for Queensland.

Some forms are available on the handbooks, fact sheets and forms page. Forms relating to financial disclosure must be lodged via the Electronic Disclosure System. All requests to access these forms must be made to the Funding & Disclosure Unit by calling 1300 881 665 or at the ECQ office during business hours.

Local government

Local Government Electoral Act 2011

Form Number	Title	Version	Date of Approval
Easy Read	Election summary return for candidates	July 2023	8 December 2023
FAD1A	Bank account details for registered political parties	July 2023	15 June 2023
FAD1B	Bank account details for candidates	July 2023	8 December 2023
FAD1C	Bank account details for third parties	July 2023	15 June 2023
FAD2A	Endorsement of a candidate for an election by a registered political party	July 2023	15 June 2023
FAD2B	Withdrawal of endorsement of a candidate by a registered political party	July 2023	15 June 2023
FAD3A	Appointment of an agent for a registered political party	July 2023	15 June 2023
FAD3B	Appointment of an agent for a candidate	July 2023	15 June 2023
FAD3C	Appointment of an agent for a third party	July 2023	15 June 2023
FAD4	Removal of an agent for a registered political party, candidate, or third party	July 2023	15 June 2023
FAD5A	Application to register a third party (an individual) for an election	July 2023	15 June 2023
FAD5B	Application to register a third party (organisation) for an election	July 2023	15 June 2023
FAD5C	Change of details for a registered third party	July 2023	15 June 2023
QFD31	Election summary return for publishers who publish election advertisements	July 2023	8 December 2023
QFD32	Election summary return for broadcasters who broadcast advertisements	July 2023	8 December 2023
QLG01A	Real-time disclosure return for gifts and loans received for local government candidates and groups of candidates	July 2023	8 December 2023
QLG01B	Election summary return for local government candidates and groups of candidates	July 2023	8 December 2023
QLG01C	Real-time disclosure return for electoral expenditure incurred for local government candidates, groups of candidates, registered political parties and associated entities	July 2023	8 December 2023
QLG02A	Real-time disclosure return for gifts received for donors / third parties participating in local government elections	July 2023	8 December 2023
QLG02B	Election summary return for donors / third parties participating in local government elections	July 2023	8 December 2023
QLG02C	Real-time disclosure return for gifts made by donors / third parties participating in local government elections	July 2023	8 December 2023
QLG02D	Election summary return for registered political parties that endorse candidates for a local government election	July 2023	8 December 2023
QLG05A	Application to register a group of candidates	July 2023	15 June 2023
QLG05B	Application to change group membership	July 2023	15 June 2023
QLG05C	Application to wind up a group of candidates	July 2023	8 December 2023
QLG05D	Appointment or removal of agent for a group of candidates	July 2023	15 June 2023
QLG06A	Real-time disclosure return for gifts/loans received for associated entities of local government candidates and groups of candidates	July 2023	8 December 2023
QLG06B	Election summary return for associated entities of local government candidates, groups of candidates and registered political parties	July 2023	8 December 2023
QLG07A	Real-time disclosure return for electoral expenditure incurred for registered third parties and third parties that ought to be registered for a local government election	July 2023	8 December 2023
QLG07B	Election summary return for electoral expenditure incurred for registered third parties and third parties that ought to be registered for a local government election	July 2023	8 December 2023

State government

Electoral Act 1992

Form Number	Title	Version	Date of Approval
FAD1A	Bank account details for registered political parties	July 2023	15 June 2023
FAD1B	Bank account details for candidates	July 2023	8 December 2023
FAD1C	Bank account details for third parties	July 2023	15 June 2023
FAD2A	Endorsement of a candidate for an election by a registered political party	July 2023	15 June 2023
FAD2B	Withdrawal of endorsement of a candidate by a registered political party	July 2023	15 June 2023
FAD3A	Appointment of an agent for a registered political party	July 2023	15 June 2023
FAD3B	Appointment of an agent for a candidate	July 2023	15 June 2023
FAD3C	Appointment of an agent for a third party	July 2023	15 June 2023
FAD4	Removal of an agent for a registered political party, candidate, or third party	July 2023	15 June 2023
FAD5A	Application to register a third party (an individual) for an election	July 2023	15 June 2023
FAD5B	Application to register a third party (organisation) for an election	July 2023	15 June 2023
FAD5C	Change of details for a registered third party	July 2023	15 June 2023
Form 5	Nomination form for State election (endorsed candidate)	August 2020	17 July 2020
Form 5A	Endorsed Candidates Consent and Declaration	August 2020	17 July 2020
Form 6	Nomination of candidate (non-endorsed)	August 2020	17 July 2020
QFD31	Election summary return for publishers who publish election advertisements	July 2023	8 December 2023
QFD32	Election summary return for broadcasters who broadcast advertisements	July 2023	8 December 2023
QPR04	Quarterly Report	October 2023	8 December 2023
QSG01	Application to Register a Political Party	August 2020	17 July 2020
QSG01A	Real Time Gift-Loan Disclosure	June 2022	17 June 2022
QSG02	Application to Change the Register of Political Parties	August 2020	17 July 2020
QSG02A	Donor Reporting Gift Made	June 2022	17 June 2022
QSG03	Nomination of a Deputy Registered Officer	August 2020	17 July 2020
QSG14A	Claim for Payment of Election Funding for Registered Political Parties	July 2024	10 July 2024
QSG14B	Claim for Payment of Election Funding for Candidates	July 2024	10 July 2024
QSG30	Real Time Return for Third Parties	November 2020	31 October 2020
QSG33	Election Summary Return – Candidates	November 2020	28 October 2020
QSG34	Election Summary Return - RPP	November 2020	28 October 2020
QSG35	Election Summary Return – Associated Entities	November 2020	28 October 2020
QSG36	Election Summary Return – Third Parties	November 2020	28 October 2020
Form 3	Application Form for Internal Review	Version 2	2 December 2022

More information

Alternatively you can contact the Funding and Disclosure Unit by phone 1300 881 665 or email fad@ecq.qld.gov.au.