Federal political finance — overview
Annual summary from AEC Transparency Register. Last full cycle: populate when FY data published (typically February for prior year).
Why track
- Factional funding via union donations (ALP)
- Corporate alignment and withdrawal signals (Liberals)
- Climate 200 and Teal funding model
Data sources
| Resource |
URL |
Use |
| AEC Transparency Register (live site) |
transparency.aec.gov.au |
Filter/sort tables; Download All Disclosure Data; entity register |
| AEC hub (obligations, background) |
Transparency Register — AEC |
What each entity type must lodge; links to the register |
| Section |
Contents |
| Register of entities |
Political parties, significant third parties, associated entities, third parties |
| Annual returns |
Parties, MPs/Senators, third parties, annual donors; Detailed Receipts for party/STP/associated-entity returns |
| Election returns |
Candidates & Senate groups, election donors; historic returns |
| Referendum returns |
Referendum entities and donors |
| Download |
Bulk export of all disclosure data for analysis |
Tables are filterable by column; use bulk download for spreadsheet work in the tracker.
Publication calendar (federal)
| Return type |
Publication timing (AEC) |
| Annual returns |
First business day in February (year after the return is lodged) |
| Election returns |
24 weeks after polling day |
| Referendum returns |
24 weeks after voting day |
| Register of entities |
Current list, updated as entities register |
AEC contact (funding & disclosure): fad@aec.gov.au · 02 6271 4552
What to flag in the tracker
- Unusually large donations or new donor sectors
- Associated entities linked to parties you are watching
- Climate 200 / Teal flows around election years
- Obvious policy–donor alignment shifts (not legal advice — pattern notes only)
Sector deep dives
Notable donors (template)
| Donor |
Amount band |
Party / recipient |
Cycle |
Notes |
| TBD |
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