Parties and candidates
Candidates
Council elections (local government)
There are a total of 68 local government councils in South Australia. In council elections, people may nominate to be a candidate for mayor, or a councillor representing a single ward or the whole of the council area where it is not divided into wards.
More information
- Council candidates page (includes information on eligibility, the nominations process and legislation)
- Introduction to Local Government (PDF, 122KB)
State elections
State election candidates nominate to stand for election to the South Australian Parliament. Eligible candidates try to win seats in either the House of Assembly or Legislative Council.
Currently, there are 47 House of Assembly members who are elected for a 4–year term.
There are 22 Legislative Council members, half of whom are elected at each general election, and serve a term of 8 years.
More information
See our Houses of Parliament page for more detailed information about the House of Assembly and Legislative Council.
For a list of all Members of Parliament visit the Parliament South Australia website.
Political parties
Political parties are organisations whose members hold similar political views. In South Australian state elections, political parties have their candidates elected to seats in the House of Assembly and Legislative Council. Individuals can run as independent candidates, without being a member of a political party.
If you would like more details on party registration, see our how to register a political party page.
Party register
Register of political parties
Registered political party | Date of registration | Abbreviation of party name |
Animal Justice Party | 24/11/2016 | |
Australian Family Party | 11/11/2021 | Aust Family Party |
Australian Greens SA | 13/02/1996 | The Greens |
Australian Labor Party (South Australian Branch) | 17/10/1985 | Australian Labor Party |
Child Protection Party | 12/12/2017 | CPP |
Family First Party Inc | 13/01/2022 | Family First |
Legalise Cannabis South Australia Party | 27/01/2022 | LCSA Party |
Liberal Democratic Party | 27/01/2022 | Liberal Democrats less government more freedom |
Liberal Party of Australia (SA Division) | 17/10/1985 | Liberal Party |
National Party of Australia (SA) Inc | 17/10/1985 | The Nationals |
Pauline Hanson's One Nation | 16/09/2021 | |
Real Change SA | 20/01/2022 | |
SA-BEST Incorporated | 04/07/2017 | SA-BEST |
Funding and disclosure guides
Please note the guides below are provided for general background information only and will be updated and republished for any future elections.
They should not be used for any official purpose or considered legal advice.
General
Funding, disclosure and registration guides
- Introduction to FAD registration concepts (PDF, 687KB)
- Associated entities (PDF, 367KB)
- Foreign person - Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act 1975 - extract (PDF, 119KB)
- Independent candidates (House of Assembly and Legislative Council) (PDF, 499KB)
- Prescribed particulars guide (PDF, 132KB)
- Registered political parties and endorsed candidates and groups (PDF, 472KB)
- Third parties (PDF, 405KB)
Funding and disclosure portal guides
- Annual political expenditure returns (PDF, 641KB)
- Associated entities - registration and associated entity returns (PDF, 1.5MB)
- Candidates and groups - registration and campaign donation returns (PDF, 537KB)
- Candidates and groups - capped expenditure period returns (PDF, 496KB)
- Donors - registration and donor returns (PDF, 616KB)
- Registered political parties - registration and political party returns (PDF, 1.8MB)
- Registered political parties - capped expenditure period returns (PDF, 613KB)
- Third parties - registration and third party returns (PDF, 2.1MB)
- Third parties - capped expenditure period returns (PDF, 528KB)
By-elections
- Election Funding Guide: by-elections (PDF, 157KB)
- Funding Disclosure Registration - 2024 Dunstan by-election Timetable of Key Compliance and Registration Events (PDF 185KB)
2022 State Election
Funding and disclosure forms
The following forms relate to funding and disclosure provisions in Part 13A of the Electoral Act 1985. If you cannot locate or download a form, please contact the Funding, Disclosure and Registration Branch on 7424 7400.
Please note that returns can be viewed in the public inspection section.
Agent
- Agent appointment or cessation - Candidate (PDF, 139KB)
- Agent appointment or cessation - Group (PDF, 144KB)
- Agent appointment or cessation - Registered political party (PDF, 141KB)
- Agent appointment or cessation - Third party (PDF, 142KB)
- Notice of resignation as agent (PDF, 122KB)
Audit
- Audit certificate (PDF, 42KB)
- Bulk audit certificate number 1 (PDF, 247KB)
- Bulk audit certificate number 2 (PDF, 248KB)
Disclosure Returns
- Political Party Return (FD15) (PDF 249KB)
- Associated Entity Return (FD16) (PDF 227KB)
- Third Party Return (FD17) (PDF 247KB)
- Annual Political Expenditure Return (FD19) (PDF 279KB)
- Audit Certificate (FD21) (PDF 109KB)
- Donor Return – Gift to Loan to Candidate or group (FD12) (PDF 342KB)
- Donor Return – Gift to Relevant Entities (FD13) (PDF 326KB)
- Special Return for Large Gift (FD14) (PDF 190KB)
- Application for Waiver of Audit Certificate (FD23) (PDF 182KB)
- Application for Deferral of Audit Certificate (PDF 166KB)
Donor
Please note: all donors must complete the 'attachment to donor return – foreign donations' (on the donor return - gifts to relevant entities), regardless of whether they consider themselves foreign donors or not.