Donations by individuals to registered political parties of between $2 and $1,500 in a financial year are tax deductible.
All gifts and receipts of money, regardless of purpose, greater than the value of $13,800 are required under the Commonwealth Electoral Act to be reported to the Australian Electoral Commission.
The Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 prohibits the knowing receipt of donations from foreign donors. Foreign donors include:
- a foreign public enterprise;
- an entity (whether or not incorporated) that does not meet any of the following conditions:
- the entity is incorporated in Australia;
- the entity’s head office is in Australia;
- the entity’s principal place of activity is, or is in, Australia;
- an individual who is none of the following:
- an elector;
- an Australian citizen;
- an Australian resident;
- a New Zealand citizen who holds a Subclass 444 (Special Category) visa under the Migration Act 1958 (or if that Subclass ceases to exist, the kind of visa that 16 replaces that Subclass)
There may be further requirements for disclosure by donors, details of which can be found at www.aec.gov.au