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
- JSCEM Report on 2022 Federal Election Tabled November 27, 2023
- Dastyari Resigns From ALP Frontbench September 7, 2016
- Dastyari Apologises, Regrets Actions: Unimpressive Media Conference September 6, 2016
- Dastyari Statement On Top Education Payments; Bernardi On The Attack August 31, 2016
- Election Funding Payments: 2016 Federal Election August 17, 2016
- Election Funding Payments: 2016 Federal Election July 27, 2016
- Senator Arthur Sinodinos Denies Wrongdoing Or Illegality March 26, 2016
- NSW Electoral Commission Blocks Liberal Party Funding Over Failure To Disclose Donations March 24, 2016
- Financial Disclosure Facts February 29, 2016
- Electoral Pocketbook – 2015 February 16, 2015
- High Court Throws Out NSW Election Donation Laws; Victory For Unions And Corporations December 18, 2013
- Election Funding Rate To Increase To $2.52 Per Vote December 10, 2013
- AEC Finalises $58 Million Of Election Funding To Candidates In Federal Election November 27, 2013
- Election Funding Payments: 2013 Federal Election November 27, 2013
- Queensland To Introduce Voter ID Law, Increase Funding Threshold, Allow Unlimited Donations November 21, 2013
- Election Funding Rate Increases To $2.47 Per Vote December 4, 2012
- John Faulkner Calls For Better Governance Of Parliament, Public Service And The ALP December 4, 2012
- Electoral Commission Clears Most Of Thomson’s Election Spending May 16, 2012
- Funding And Disclosure Report: 2010 Federal Election November 14, 2011
- Election Funding Rate Increased To $2.34 Per Vote January 6, 2011
- Election Funding Payments: 2010 Federal Election October 29, 2010
- Electoral Reform Green Paper December 17, 2008
- Election Funding Payments: 2007 Federal Election January 9, 2008
- Democrats Attack Howard Amendments To Electoral Laws June 16, 2006
- Election Funding Payments: 2004 Federal Election December 9, 2004
- Tony Windsor Accuses Anderson And McDonald Of Bribery November 17, 2004
- Crime Commission Finds No Impropriety In Pauline Hanson Prosecution January 23, 2004
- Pauline Hanson Jailed For Three Years For Electoral Fraud August 20, 2003
- Election Funding Payments: 2001 Federal Election December 6, 2001
- Paying Attention To The Rules Of The Election Game: John Warhurst June 29, 2001
- Bracks, Mr 77%, Courts Melbourne Business August 19, 2000
- Election Funding Payments: 1998 Federal Election November 27, 1998
- 1996 Federal Election Funding November 7, 1996
- Gary Gray: The Funding Of Political Parties June 18, 1996
