Associated entities
Associated entities of registered political parties
Under the Local Government Electoral Act 2011, a registered political party and its associated entity are treated as one entity. An associated entity of a registered political party is any entity which:
- is controlled by a registered party (or candidates endorsed by the party)
- operates wholly or to a significant extent for the benefit of a registered political party
- operates for the dominant purpose of promoting a registered political party.
For any gifts or loans made and electoral expenditure incurred, associated entities are required to meet the same real-time and summary return financial disclosure obligations as their party. Electoral expenditure incurred by an associated entity counts towards its party’s expenditure cap.
Associated entities must use the dedicated campaign bank account of their registered political party for a local government election. An associated entity’s record keeping requirements are the same as its party’s.
More information for registered political parties and their associated entities about incurring electoral expenditure, financial disclosure, compliance, and record keeping can be found by using the tabs above. The below fact sheet provides a more detailed funding and disclosure overview for associated entities, as well as information about what is not an associated entity of a registered political party.
Links to further information: