Caps and funding rates
Political donation caps
Political donation caps apply for State elections and by-elections in Queensland.
The caps are set by legislation and are adjusted for inflation each financial year.
Caps apply to political donations given to a registered political party or state candidate by a single donor during a donation cap period.
You can view the current and historical political donation caps below.
Note: There are no political donation caps for local government elections.
| Election participant | Political donation cap amount |
|---|---|
| Registered political party | $4,930 |
| State candidate (endorsed) | $7,395* |
| State candidate (non-endorsed) | $7,395 |
*This amount is shared by all candidates endorsed by the same registered political party for the election.
You can view the notice of political donation caps here.
| Election participant | Political donation cap amount |
|---|---|
| Registered political party | $4,800 |
| State candidate (endorsed) | $7,200* |
| State candidate (non-endorsed) | $7,200 |
*This amount is shared by all candidates endorsed by the same registered political party for the election.
You can view the notice of political donation caps here.
| Election participant | Political donation cap amount |
|---|---|
| Registered political party | $4,000 |
| State candidate (endorsed) | $6,000* |
| State candidate (non-endorsed) | $6,000 |
*This amount is shared by all candidates endorsed by the same registered political party for the election.
You can view the notice of political donation caps here.
Electoral expenditure caps
State government elections
Electoral expenditure caps apply for State elections and by-elections in Queensland. The caps are set by legislation and are adjusted for inflation after each general election.
Expenditure caps apply to electoral expenditure incurred by an election participant during the capped expenditure period for an election.
You can view the current and historical electoral expenditure caps below.
Election participant | Electoral expenditure cap | ||
|---|---|---|---|
General election | By-election | ||
Generally | For an electoral district | ||
Registered political party | $115,156.91* | $115,156.91 | - |
Endorsed candidate | - | $72,598.92 | $108,898.38† |
Independent candidate | - | $108,898.38 | $108,898.38 |
Registered third party | $1,251,705.56 | $108,898.38 | $108,898.38 |
Unregistered third party | $6,000 | - | $6,000 |
* This amount is multiplied by the number of electoral districts for which the registered political party has endorsed a candidate for the election.
† This amount is shared with the registered political party that endorsed the candidate.
You can view the notice of electoral expenditure caps here.
Election participant | Electoral expenditure cap | ||
|---|---|---|---|
General election | By-election | ||
Generally | For an electoral district | ||
Registered political party | $95,964.09* | $95,964.09 | - |
Endorsed candidate | - | $60,499.10 | $90,748.65† |
Independent candidate | - | $90,748.65 | $90,748.65 |
Registered third party | $1,043,087.97 | $90,748.65 | $90,748.65 |
Unregistered third party | $6,000 | - | $6,000 |
* This amount is multiplied by the number of electoral districts for which the registered political party has endorsed a candidate for the election.
† This amount is shared with the registered political party that endorsed the candidate.
You can view the notice of electoral expenditure caps here.
Election participant | Electoral expenditure cap | ||
|---|---|---|---|
General election | By-election | ||
Generally | For an electoral district | ||
Registered political party | $92,000* | $92,000 | - |
Endorsed candidate | - | $58,000 | $87,000† |
Independent candidate | - | $87,000 | $87,000 |
Registered third party | $1,000,000 | $87,000 | $87,000 |
Unregistered third party | $6,000 | - | $6,000 |
* This amount is multiplied by the number of electoral districts for which the registered political party has endorsed a candidate for the election.
† This amount is shared with the registered political party that endorsed the candidate.
You can view the notice of electoral expenditure caps here.
Local government elections
Electoral expenditure caps apply for local government elections in Queensland.
The expenditure caps are calculated by the ECQ for each local government election based on electoral roll data and the relevant factors set by legislation. The ECQ publishes the notice of expenditure caps for each election on its election event webpage.
After each local government quadrennial election, the relevant factors used to calculate the expenditure caps are adjusted in accordance with CPI. You can view the current and historical relevant factors below.
| Election participant | Section of Local Government Electoral Act 2011 | Relevant factor |
|---|---|---|
| Mayor - Brisbane City Council | 123D(2) | $1,539,210.00 |
| Councillor - Brisbane City Council | 123E(2) | $65,120.00 |
| Mayor - Other councils | 123D(3)(a) | $35,520.00 |
| 123D(3)(b)(1) | $1.18 | |
| 123D(3)(c) A | $177,600.00 | |
| 123D(3)(c) B | $0.59 | |
| 123D(3)(c) F | $207,200.00 | |
| 123D(3)(c) G | $0.30 | |
| Councillor - Other councils | 123E(3)(a) | $17,760.00 |
| 123E(3)(b)(i) | $0.89 | |
| 123E(3)(c) | $35,520.00 |
You can view the notice of adjusted relevant factors PDF (0.15 MB).
| Election participant | Section of Local Government Electoral Act 2011 | Relevant factor |
|---|---|---|
| Mayor - Brisbane City Council | 123D(2) | $1,300,000.00 |
| Councillor - Brisbane City Council | 123E(2) | $55,000.00 |
| Mayor - Other councils | 123D(3)(a) | $30,000.00 |
| 123D(3)(b)(1) | $1.00 | |
| 123D(3)(c) A | $150,000.00 | |
| 123D(3)(c) B | $0.50 | |
| 123D(3)(c) F | $175,000.00 | |
| 123D(3)(c) G | $0.25 | |
| Councillor - Other councils | 123E(3)(a) | $15,000.00 |
| 123E(3)(b)(i) | $0.75 | |
| 123E(3)(c) | $30,000.00 |
Election funding rates
For State elections and by-elections, registered political parties and candidates who receive at least 4% of the total formal first preference votes can apply for reimbursement of their electoral expenditure. This is referred to as election funding.
The amount of election funding payable is the lesser of:
- the election funding rate multiplied by each first preference vote received
or
- the amount of claimed electoral expenditure that is accepted by the ECQ.
The election funding rate is adjusted for inflation each financial year. You can view the current and historical election funding rates below.
Note: There is no election funding for local government elections.
| Election participant | Election funding rate |
|---|---|
| Registered political party | $6.842 |
| State candidate (endorsed) | $3.422 |
| State candidate (non-endorsed) | $3.422 |
| Election participant | Election funding rate |
|---|---|
| Registered political party | $6.665 |
| State candidate (endorsed) | $3.333 |
| State candidate (non-endorsed) | $3.333 |
| Election participant | Election funding rate |
|---|---|
| Registered political party | $6.445 |
| State candidate (endorsed) | $3.223 |
| State candidate (non-endorsed) | $3.223 |
| Election participant | Election funding rate |
|---|---|
| Registered political party | $6.00 |
| State candidate (endorsed) | $3.00 |
| State candidate (non-endorsed) | $3.00 |
More information
- Information for State election participants
- Information for local government participants
- Handbooks, fact sheets, forms and user guides
Alternatively, you can contact the Funding and Disclosure Unit by phone 1300 881 665 or email fad@ecq.qld.gov.au.