Electoral expenditure caps

Electoral expenditure caps

Expenditure caps apply for local government elections in Queensland. The expenditure caps are calculated and published by the ECQ for each local government election based on electoral roll data.

The expenditure cap for registered third parties applies and is calculated separately for each local government area. The expenditure cap for one local government area cannot be aggregated with the cap of another.

For unregistered third parties, the expenditure cap amount is $6,000. This cap does not apply separately for each local government area, it is the total cap for the entire election. If this cap is reached, the unregistered third party must register and registered third party caps will then apply.

The ECQ publishes the notice of the expenditure cap amounts on its election event webpage. This will be available

• for the regular quadrennial local government elections – before the capped expenditure period begins
• for a by-election – at the same time as the notice for the election is issued.

Each local government election has a capped expenditure period. During this period, a third party may only incur electoral expenses up to their capped amount. The capped expenditure period for an election will be published in the notice of expenditure caps for the election.

After each quadrennial election, the relevant factors used to calculate the expenditure caps are adjusted in accordance with CPI. You can view the adjusted relevant factors.

Video overviews

• Electoral expenditure caps for third parties (including donors)

Links to further information:

• Fact sheet 13 – Expenditure cap calculations
• Fact sheet 36 – Expenditure caps for third parties