New political donation rules start on 1 January 2027, not July

If you read earlier that Australia's new political donation rules start on 1 July 2026, that date has changed. The main reforms now begin on 1 January 2027. In between, a set of transitional rules applies.

This explainer is based on the Australian Electoral Commission's pages on the transitional rules and the changes to funding and disclosure.

Why the date moved

The reforms come from the Electoral Legislation Amendment (Electoral Reform) Act 2025. The new funding and disclosure scheme was originally due to start on 1 July 2026. The start was moved to 1 January 2027, and the AEC now describes 1 January 2027 as the commencement date for the new scheme.

What happens now, until 31 December

Transitional rules have applied since 1 July 2026. They run until 30 June 2027 and cannot operate beyond that date.

For donations made between 1 July and 31 December 2026, the disclosure threshold is $17,300. That means gifts above that amount have to be disclosed under the existing scheme. Annual donors who give more than $17,300 in that period must lodge a donor return for it.

The AEC says the transitional rules mainly keep the existing reporting obligations working during the changeover.

What changes on 1 January 2027

From 1 January 2027, the AEC lists these as key changes:

• A much lower disclosure threshold. All donations that total more than $5,000 must be disclosed.

• Caps on gifts and on electoral expenditure. For the first time, there will be limits on how much can be given and spent for federal electoral purposes. The AEC publishes the details of each cap.

• Faster disclosure. The reforms introduce expedited disclosure of donations.

• A new public funding rate. From 1 January 2027, the election funding rate is $5, for elections where the writs are issued after that date. It will be indexed every six months, starting on 1 July 2027.

Who this affects

The rules apply to parties, candidates, donors and other disclosure entities, including significant third parties and associated entities. The AEC says they will need to adapt their processes, systems and reporting to comply.

If you are an individual who gives small amounts to a party or candidate, the main difference you are likely to notice is that donations above $5,000 will be public from 2027.

Why it matters

The changes are designed to make political funding more visible: the threshold for disclosure falls from $17,300 to $5,000, disclosure becomes faster, and caps apply to giving and spending. How well they work will only become clear once the new scheme is running and the first returns and disclosures are published.

Where to check

The AEC's pages are the authoritative source and are being updated as the changeover continues. If you have obligations as a party, candidate or donor, check them directly or contact the AEC.

This article is general information, not legal advice.