State campaign accounts
A state campaign account is a dedicated financial institution account that must be used by political participants in South Australian state elections to manage donations, public funding, and political expenditure. These accounts are required for candidates, groups, registered political parties, and third parties*.
* Third parties only need a state campaign account if they receive amounts that must be paid into one under the Act.
Key requirements
- The state campaign account must be established with an authorised deposit-taking institution (ADI).
A list of ADIs can be found on the APRA Register of Authorised Deposit-taking Institutions. - Must be registered with the Electoral Commission
- The Electoral Commissioner maintains a register of state campaign accounts and your account must be listed on the register before it can be used.
- Agents are responsible for providing account details, including the name and account number, the agent responsible for the account and any other details required by the Electoral Commissioner.
Money that must be deposited
- Public funding payments
- Donations received (unless unlawful, not electoral donations or excluded by regulation)
- Funds for political expenditure or reimbursement
- For mixed-purpose payments, only the portion for political expenditure must be deposited.
Money that must not be deposited
- Administrative or policy development payments
- Transfers from federal campaign accounts under the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918.
Note: If money is mistakenly deposited, it is not an offence, as long as the agent takes reasonable steps to withdraw it immediately upon becoming aware of the error.