What price democracy?
Elections cost money to run. In addition, the taxpayer funds political parties and election candidates. On top of that, donations to political parties run into many millions of dollars.
The democratic, ethical and financial issues involved in the electoral process are important to any assessment of the state of democracy.
Election Funding & Disclosure
Since 1984, Australia has used a system of public funding of federal elections. Political parties and candidates are reimbursed for their election expenses in proportion to the percentage of the vote they secure, provided they poll at least 4%.
Public funding is accompanied by financial disclosure rules.
- Feb 29, 2016: Financial Disclosure Facts
- Nov 15, 2011: Funding and Disclosure Report: 2010 Federal Election
Federal Election Funding Payments
Click on the election year links for detailed figures on payments to parties and independents.
| Federal Election Funding Payments | |
|---|---|
| ELECTION | AMOUNT PAID ($AUD) |
Archived Posts
- Sep 07, 2016: Dastyari Resigns From ALP Frontbench
- Sep 06, 2016: Dastyari Apologises, Regrets Actions: Unimpressive Media Conference
- Aug 31, 2016: Dastyari Statement On Top Education Payments; Bernardi On The Attack
- Aug 17, 2016: Election Funding Payments: 2016 Federal Election
- Jul 27, 2016: Election Funding Payments: 2016 Federal Election
- Mar 26, 2016: Senator Arthur Sinodinos Denies Wrongdoing Or Illegality
- Mar 24, 2016: NSW Electoral Commission Blocks Liberal Party Funding Over Failure To Disclose Donations
- Feb 29, 2016: Financial Disclosure Facts
- Feb 16, 2015: Electoral Pocketbook – 2015
- Dec 18, 2013: High Court Throws Out NSW Election Donation Laws; Victory For Unions And Corporations
- Dec 10, 2013: Election Funding Rate To Increase To $2.52 Per Vote
- Nov 27, 2013: AEC Finalises $58 Million Of Election Funding To Candidates In Federal Election
- Nov 27, 2013: Election Funding Payments: 2013 Federal Election
- Nov 21, 2013: Queensland To Introduce Voter ID Law, Increase Funding Threshold, Allow Unlimited Donations
- Dec 04, 2012: Election Funding Rate Increases To $2.47 Per Vote
- Dec 04, 2012: John Faulkner Calls For Better Governance Of Parliament, Public Service And The ALP
- May 16, 2012: Electoral Commission Clears Most Of Thomson’s Election Spending
- Nov 14, 2011: Funding And Disclosure Report: 2010 Federal Election
- Jan 06, 2011: Election Funding Rate Increased To $2.34 Per Vote
- Oct 29, 2010: Election Funding Payments: 2010 Federal Election
- Dec 17, 2008: Electoral Reform Green Paper
- Jan 09, 2008: Election Funding Payments: 2007 Federal Election
- Jun 16, 2006: Democrats Attack Howard Amendments To Electoral Laws
- Dec 09, 2004: Election Funding Payments: 2004 Federal Election
- Nov 17, 2004: Tony Windsor Accuses Anderson And McDonald Of Bribery
- Jan 23, 2004: Crime Commission Finds No Impropriety In Pauline Hanson Prosecution
- Aug 20, 2003: Pauline Hanson Jailed For Three Years For Electoral Fraud
- Dec 06, 2001: Election Funding Payments: 2001 Federal Election
- Jun 29, 2001: Paying Attention To The Rules Of The Election Game: John Warhurst
- Aug 19, 2000: Bracks, Mr 77%, Courts Melbourne Business
- Nov 27, 1998: Election Funding Payments: 1998 Federal Election
- Nov 07, 1996: 1996 Federal Election Funding
- Jun 18, 1996: Gary Gray: The Funding Of Political Parties
