Q1 When do I need to lodge my disclosure for the 2012/2013 financial year?The deadline for disclosures for the 2012/2013 financial year is 23 September 2013. In the case of a donor, a disclosure is required to be made before 21 October 2013.
Q2 Can I lodge my disclosurefor 2012/13 early?No, disclosures cannot be lodged early, ie before 1 July 2013.
Q3 What information must be lodged in my disclosure?For the purposes of the Act, 'disclosure' refers to information lodged with the EFA about political donations received or made and electoral expenditure incurred by a candidate, group of candidates, elected member or third-party campaigner, and political donations made by a major political donor.
Q4 Who makes the disclosures?If you are an elected member, candidate, group or third-party campaigner, your party agent or official agent is required to lodge the disclosures of the political donations received and made and electoral expenditure incurred. If the EFA has designated an elected member to be their own agent, the elected member has to lodge the disclosure.
Q5 Does my disclosure need to be audited?Yes, all disclosures, including 'nil' disclosures, must be audited by a registered company auditor unless the EFA has approved an exemption (contact the EFA for more details). Please note that political donors do not need to have their disclosure audited.
Q6 Do I need to disclose details of all donations received?No, your agent only needs to disclose details of reportable donations received, ie donations of or exceeding $1,000. Donations that don't exceed $1,000 are small political donations and don't need disclosure of all of the details of the donation. However, the party agent or official agent must disclose the aggregate of all small political donations, including the number of donors. Please note that small political donations are considered reportable political donations once the aggregate of all donations by one donor to one person or entity reaches or exceeds $1,000 in the financial year.
Q7 How do disclosures need to be lodged?Disclosures of political donations and electoral expenditure must be made using the forms approved by the EFA. Used Receipt and Acknowledgement books as well as invoices and receipts, supporting advertising and printing expenditure must be submitted with the disclosure. Also, copies of advertising and printing material are to be provided.
Q8 Do I need to lodge a disclosure if I didn't receive any donations or incur any electoral expenditure?
Yes, if no donations were received and no expenditure was incurred, a 'nil' disclosure must be lodged.
Q9 I funded my campaign myself. Do I still need to lodge a disclosure?Yes, you are still be required to lodge a disclosure. The amount you contributed to your campaign is shown on your disclosure as Self Funding.
Q10 I can't find the disclosure forms on your website, so could you please send me the relevant disclosure form?All disclosure forms will be available on the website from mid-June. All official agents will also receive a disclosure form and reminder by mail.
Disclosures are to be sent to:
Election Funding Authority of NSW
GPO Box 4046
Sydney NSW 2001
or
Alternatively, you can fax your disclosure to : (02) 9290 5410 or email to: enquiries@efa.nsw.gov.au