Policy development funding provides reimbursement to eligible registered political parties for policy development expenditure incurred during a financial year.
Eligibility
A party is eligible for annual payments if:
- It is an entitled registered political party for at least 12 months during the full calendar year of expenditure, and
- It is not receiving administrative funding.
Note: A registered party is considered eligible if it has been registered for 12 months or more as of 1 January and remains registered for the entire calendar year.
Funding amount
Eligible parties may receive up to $20,000 per year (indexed from 2026), based on actual policy development expenditure.
Important: This funding must not be paid into a state campaign account and cannot be used for political or electoral expenditure.
What qualifies as policy development expenditure
Expenditure may include activities such as:
- Hosting conferences, seminars, meetings, or similar functions where party policies are discussed.
- Providing information about party policies to members and supporters.
- Conducting research for the purpose of developing party policies.
How to claim
Eligible parties can submit a claim to the Electoral Commission of South Australia within 30 days after the end of the calendar year to which the expenditure relates.