Real-time disclosure requirements

Real-time disclosure requirements

Agents of groups of candidates are required to use the ECQ’s Electronic Disclosure System (EDS) to disclose:

• gifts and loans of $500 or more – including cumulative amounts that total $500 or more from a single donor
• all electoral expenditure – once the total amount spent reaches $500 or more.

Most of the information in a disclosure return is accessible by the public.

Generally, disclosure returns must be lodged within 7 business days of the electoral expenditure being incurred or gift or loan being received. This is known as real-time disclosure. In the last 7 business days before election day, disclosures of electoral expenditure made and gifts or loans received must be lodged within 24 hours.

After an election, your agent must also disclose the total value of all your group’s electoral expenditure as well as gifts and loans your group received. You can find more information about this by clicking on the Lodging an election summary return tab above.

Failure to disclose gifts or loans or electoral expenditure, within the time required is an offence under the Local Government Electoral Act 2011.

Video overviews

• Real-time disclosure obligations for candidates and groups of candidates
• When is electoral expenditure incurred?

Links to further information:

• Fact sheet 6 – Offences and penalties for candidates
• Fact sheet 10 – Definition of gifts and loans
• Fact sheet 12 – Definition of electoral expenditure
• Fact sheet 18 – Real-time disclosure of electoral expenditure for candidates, groups, and registered political parties
• Fact sheet 25 – Real-time disclosure of gifts and loans by agents of groups of candidates
• Local government quadrennial elections and by-elections