Disclosure of political donations and electoral expenditure

What is disclosure?

A disclosure return is the reporting of all donations, loans, and expenditure incurred for an election campaign. These must be reported to the ECQ under the Electoral Act 1992 and the Local Government Electoral Act 2011. All disclosures are made through the Electronic Disclosure System (EDS) and are available to the public.

Public disclosure ensures the integrity and transparency of political campaign funding in Queensland. The ECQ conducts audits and compliance activities to ensure the integrity of disclosure information. Non-compliance with disclosure laws carries significant penalties.

Who needs to make a disclosure?

Candidates (or their agent)
Groups of candidates (or their agent)
Agents of registered political parties
Financial controllers of associated entities
Third party campaigners
Political donors

How do I make a disclosure?

Disclosures must be lodged via the EDS and can be viewed by the public. Need help using the EDS?

What needs to be disclosed?

All details of donations and loans made, and expenditure incurred towards an election, must be disclosed.

In general, the threshold for disclosure to registered political parties and State candidates is $1,000 (cumulative between January – June, and July – December each year),and $500 (cumulative) for local government elections.

Registered political parties and associated entities have additional reporting obligations. More information can be found on our registered political parties page.

All election participants should be familiar with the requirements that apply to their circumstances.

Notification of approved forms

The following forms have been approved by the Electoral Commissioner for Queensland.

Some forms are available on the handbooks, fact sheets and forms page. Forms relating to financial disclosure must be lodged via the Electronic Disclosure System. All requests to access these forms must be made to the Funding & Disclosure Unit by calling 1300 881 665 or at the ECQ office during business hours.

State Government

Electoral Act 1992

Form Number	Title	Version	Date of Approval
Form 5	Nomination form for State election (endorsed candidate)	August 2020	17 July 2020
Form 5A	Endorsed Candidates Consent and Declaration	August 2020	17 July 2020
Form 6	Nomination of candidate (non-endorsed)	August 2020	17 July 2020
QFD01A	Real Time Return for State Candidates	July 2019	25 June 2019
QFD01B	Periodic Return for State Candidates	July 2019	25 June 2019
QFD03B	Individual Reporting a Gift Made	July 2019	25 June 2019
QFD17	Registration of EFT Details for Policy Development Payments	July 2019	25 June 2019
QFD25	Request to Amend a Return or Claim	July 2019	25 June 2019
QPR01	Application to Register a Political Party	July 2019	25 June 2019
QPR02	Application to Change the Register of Political Parties	July 2019	25 June 2019
QPR03	Nomination of a Deputy Registered Officer	July 2019	25 June 2019
QPR04	Quarterly Report	July 2019	25 June 2019
QPR05	Notice of Appointment of an Agent by a Registered Political Party	July 2019	25 June 2019
QSG01	Application to Register a Political Party	August 2020	17 July 2020
QSG01A	Real Time Gift-Loan Disclosure	August 2020	29 July 2020
QSG02	Application to Change the Register of Political Parties	August 2020	17 July 2020
QSG02A	Donor Reporting Gift Made	August 2020	29 July 2020
QSG03	Nomination of a Deputy Registered Officer	August 2020	17 July 2020
QSG04A	Registration of a Third Party – An Individual	August 2020	17 July 2020
QSG04B	Registration of a Third Party – An Organisation	August 2020	17 July 2020
QSG07	Change of Details of a Third Party Registration	August 2020	17 July 2020
QSG08A	Appointment of An Agent – Registered Political Party	August 2020	17 July 2020
QSG08B	Appointment of An Agent - Candidate	August 2020	17 July 2020
QSG08C	Appointment of An Agent – Third Party	August 2020	17 July 2020
QSG09	Removal of Agent	August 2020	17 July 2020
QSG14A	Claim for Payment of Election Funding for Registered Political Parties	March 2020	27 March 2020
QSG14B	Claim for Payment of Election Funding for Candidates	March 2020	27 March 2020
QSG16A	State Campaign Account Details – Registered Political Party	August 2020	17 July 2020
QSG16B	State Campaign Account Details – Candidates	August 2020	17 July 2020
QSG16C	State Campaign Account Details – Third Party	August 2020	17 July 2020
QSG18	Endorsement of a Candidate by a Registered Political Party	August 2020	17 July 2020
QSG20	Withdrawal of Endorsement of Candidate by Registered Political Party	August 2020	17 July 2020
QSG30	Real Time Return for Third Parties	November 2020	31 October 2020
QSG31	Election Summary Return - Publisher	November 2020	31 October 2020
QSG32	Election Summary Return – Broadcasters	November 2020	31 October 2020
QSG33	Election Summary Return – Candidates	November 2020	28 October 2020
QSG34	Election Summary Return - RPP	November 2020	28 October 2020
QSG35	Election Summary Return – Associated Entities	November 2020	28 October 2020
QSG36	Election Summary Return – Third Parties	November 2020	28 October 2020

Local Government

Local Government Electoral Act 2011

Form Number	Title	Version	Date of Approval
QLG01A	Real-Time Gift-Loan Disclosure Return	January 2020	23 December 2019
QLG01B	Election Summary Return Local Government Election Candidates	January 2020	23 December 2019
QLG01C	Real-Time Electoral Expenditure Return for Candidates and Groups	January 2020	23 December 2019
QLG02A	Real-Time Gift Disclosure Return	January 2020	23 December 2019
QLG02B	Election Summary Return Third Parties	January 2020	23 December 2019
QLG02C	Real-Time Political Expenditure Return	January 2020	23 December 2019
QLG03	Request to Amend a Return	January 2020	23 December 2019
QLG04A	Transitional Gift-Loan Disclosure Return	January 2020	23 December 2019
QLG04B	Transitional Summary Return for Councillors and Announced Candidates	January 2020	23 December 2019
QLG04C	Transitional Electoral Expenditure Return	January 2020	23 December 2019
QLG05A	Application to Register a Group of Candidates	January 2020	23 December 2019
QLG05B	Application to Modify a Group of Candidates	January 2020	23 December 2019
QLG05C	Application to Deregister a Group of Candidates	January 2020	23 December 2019
QLG05D	Appointment or Removal of Agent for a Group of Candidates	January 2020	23 December 2019
QLG05E	Registration as Agent of a Group of Candidates	January 2020	23 December 2019

More information

Alternatively you can contact the Funding and Disclosure Unit by phone 1300 881 665 or email fad@ecq.qld.gov.au.