On this page

• Legislative Council elections
• Payment structure
• Lodging a certificate
• Early payment
• Deductions and repayments
• Compliance and auditing

Advance public funding is a new initiative introduced under the Electoral (Accountability and Integrity) Amendment Act 2024. It provides eligible political participants with early access to public funds to support their state election campaigns.

This funding is available to candidates, groups, registered political parties, and independent members who meet specific requirements and lodge the appropriate certificate before polling day. Payments are made in instalments and are calculated based on previous election results or a legislated set amount.

Advance funding is designed to help cover legitimate campaign costs during the capped expenditure period. Strict rules apply to eligibility, timing, use of funds, and repayment obligations.

Legislative Council elections

Under Section 130PC of the Electoral Act 1985 (the Act), the Electoral Commissioner may provide advance public funding for candidates and groups contesting the Legislative Council (LC) district during a general election. Payments are made in 2 instalments.

Eligibility

Advance payments are available to:

• Entitled registered political party
• Other registered political party
• Independent LC candidate (current/former MP)
• Group of LC candidates (includes current/former MP)
• Entitled LC group (not endorsed by a party)
• Entitled LC candidate (not endorsed by a party)
• LC minor party
  • Meets specific criteria and endorses candidates in both LC and HA districts.

To receive funding, the agent of the recipient must lodge a section 130PF certificate with the Electoral Commissioner before polling day.

Payment structure

Advance funding is paid in 2 instalments:

• Payment A: 60% of the notional amount (or set amount)
  • Payment A is made after the section 130PF certificate is lodged.

• Payment B: 20% of the notional amount (or set amount)
  • Payment B is made after the writ is issued or nominating/grouping is confirmed (whichever applies).

Payments are made to the state campaign account, not to individuals.

How it's calculated

Notional amount = eligible votes from previous LC election x per-vote amount (section 130P).

Special rules apply to:

• Newly registered parties (between 2 LC elections.
• Minor parties using votes from the 2 preceding LC elections.

Advance funding by recipient

Lodging a section 130PF certificate

Timing:

• Must be lodged after the capped expenditure period begins.
• Must be lodged before polling day.

Once lodged:

• The certificate cannot be withdrawn.

Missed deadline:

• No advance funding will be paid.
• You may still qualify under section 130Q(3)(b) if a section 130Q certificate is lodged within 14 days after polling day.

Early payment of certain advance funding

Under section 130PD of the Act, certain political participants may request an early payment of a portion of their advance public funding before the capped expenditure period begins.

👉 See advance funding early payment page for more information

Deductions and repayments

Section 130PE of the Act outlines how advance public funding received under sections 130PA to 130PD is managed in relation to final public funding entitlements for Legislative Council elections.

Deductions

Any advance funding received for Legislative Council elections will be deducted from the amount of public funding payable under section 130P.

Repayment

The Electoral Commissioner may require repayment of advance funding if any of the following conditions apply:

1. Non-participation
   The party, candidate, or group does not contest the election.
   Exception: A valid reason for non-participation may be accepted by the Electoral Commissioner.

2. No entitlement to public funding
   Repayment may be required if the agent represents:

   • A party with no members of parliament at the time of dissolution.
   • A candidate or group with no parliamentary representation.
     and there is no entitlement under section 130Q(1) or (2).

3. Vote share affects entitlement
   For candidates or groups without parliamentary representation, the amount of public funding is based on the percentage of first preference votes received:

   • 0% to 10%: $3.50 per eligible vote (indexed).
   • More than 10%: $3.00 per eligible vote (indexed).

4. Party dissolution
   The party ceases to operate, is deregistered, or is being dissolved or wound up before polling day.

Compliance and auditing

Participants who receive advance public funding are subject to compliance obligations under the Act and the Regulations. These obligations ensure that public funds are used appropriately and transparently.

Record-keeping requirements

All participants must maintain accurate and complete records of:

• Campaign-related expenditure funded by advance payments.
• Invoices, receipts, and contracts for goods and services.
• Staff employment records and payment details.
• Advertising materials and distribution logs.
• Bank statements for the state campaign account.

Records must be retained for at least 4 years after polling day and be made available to the Electoral Commissioner upon request.

Auditing and review

The Electoral Commission of South Australia (ECSA) may:

• Audit campaign expenditure to verify compliance with funding rules.
• Request supporting documentation for any claimed expenses.
• Investigate potential misuse of public funds or breaches of the Act.

Participants may be required to repay funds if:

• Expenditure is found to be ineligible.
• Records are incomplete or inaccurate.
• The participant fails to meet vote thresholds or other eligibility criteria.

Penalties for non-compliance

Failure to comply with funding conditions may result in:

• Repayment of advance funding.
• Loss of future funding eligibility.
• Referral for investigation under electoral or criminal law.

ECSA encourages all participants to seek professional advice and maintain strong financial governance throughout the campaign period.

Under Section 130PD of the Electoral Act 1985, certain political participants may request an early payment of a portion of their advance public funding before the capped expenditure period begins.

Eligible applicants

This provision applies to:

• Registered political parties (excluding entitled registered parties)
• Non-party members (e.g. independent candidates)

It applies to elections for both House of Assembly (section 130PA) and the Legislative Council (section 130PC).

Payment limits

Agents may request:

• Up to 10% of Payment A
  or
• A maximum of $100,000
  (whichever is less).

Application period

The notice must be submitted:

• After 30 days from polling day of the previous general election
• Before the capped expenditure period begins for the upcoming general election

Notice requirements

The notice must:

• Be submitted in the form and manner determined by the Electoral Commissioner
• Include a verification that the payment is sought for the upcoming general election
• Include an undertaking that the funds will be used for political expenditure

Conditions and deductions

• The early payment will be deducted from the recipient’s Payment A entitlement
• The funds must be used only for political expenditure
• The expenditure is treated as incurred during the capped expenditure period
• Only one notice can be submitted per general election.

Overview

A state campaign account is a dedicated financial institution account that must be used by political participants in South Australian state elections to manage donations, public funding, and political expenditure. These accounts are required for candidates, groups, registered political parties, and third parties*.

* Third parties only need a state campaign account if they receive amounts that must be paid into one under the Act.

Notification form

Agents must complete the state campaign account notification form to register account details with the Electoral Commission. The form is available via the link below and must be lodged before the account can be used for deposits or expenditure.

👉 To access the state campaign account notification form, visit our compliance resources page.

Key requirements

• The state campaign account must be established with an authorised deposit-taking institution (ADI).
  A list of ADIs can be found on the APRA Register of Authorised Deposit-taking Institutions.
• Must be registered with the Electoral Commission
  • The Electoral Commissioner maintains a register of state campaign accounts and your account must be listed on the register before it can be used.
  • Agents are responsible for providing account details, including the name and account number, the agent responsible for the account and any other details required by the Electoral Commissioner.

Money that must be deposited

• Public funding payments
• Donations received (unless unlawful, not electoral donations or excluded by regulation)
• Funds for political expenditure or reimbursement
• For mixed-purpose payments, only the portion for political expenditure must be deposited.

Money that must not be deposited

• Administrative or policy development payments
• Transfers from federal campaign accounts under the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918.

Note: If money is mistakenly deposited, it is not an offence, as long as the agent takes reasonable steps to withdraw it immediately upon becoming aware of the error.