2016 federal election disclosure returns published today

Disclosure returns lodged with the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) by candidates, Senate groups and election donors following the 2016 federal election held on Saturday 2 July 2016 have been released for public inspection.

The returns cover receipts and expenditure by candidates who contested the 2016 federal election. Of the 1625 candidates who contested the federal election, a total of 1602 lodged returns and of these, 1249 candidates lodged nil returns. In addition 10 Senate Group returns were lodged, 9 of which were nil returns. A further 7 donor returns were also lodged.

Gifts received and any expenditure incurred by a candidate’s party committee will be included in the annual financial disclosure returns for 2015–16 lodged by the party.

Party financial disclosure returns for the 2015–16 financial year will be available for public inspection on Wednesday 1 February 2016.

Financial disclosure requirements

Candidates

Candidates are required to disclose the total sum of all donations received and used to fund their campaign, along with details of donations received where those donations total more than $13 200 from a single source. Totals of electoral expenditure under specified categories are also required.

Officially endorsed candidates may submit a 'nil return' and roll their reporting into the annual return for their party, due for release in February 2017 if those financial transactions were the responsibility of a party committee.

Donations received and expenditure incurred by candidates' campaign committees will be disclosed in their party annual returns, due for public release on the first working day in February 2017.

Donors

Donations totalling more than $13 200 made to an individual candidate, and donations received by a donor totalling more than $13 200 from a single source that were used in turn to fund donations to an individual candidate must be reported by the donor.