Victorian Donation Guide 2026
Know your legal obligations when donating this Victorian State Election.
Prepared 9 June 2026
Overview
Thank you for considering supporting Turning Point Australia. Victoria’s political donation laws were recently rewritten by the Electoral Further Amendment Act 2026, after the High Court struck down the previous rules in April 2026, so it’s worth taking a moment to understand how they affect you.
This page explains the rules that apply to you as a donor, including how much you can give and what needs to be disclosed, and how your contribution is put to work. The key figure to know is that for the 2026 Victorian State Election, the most any single donor may give us is $5,190. If you are interested in contributing further to us, we have other ways you can support our organisation outside election cycles. Please read this sheet before giving, and if you have any questions about a donation you’re planning, just ask – we’re happy to help.
Who Can Donate
You can donate if you are:
- An Australian citizen, or
- An Australian resident, or
- An Australian business or organisation with an ABN (or ACN).
You cannot donate if you are not an Australian citizen or resident, or an Australian business. Foreign donations are banned. We also cannot accept anonymous donations above $1,290 – we need to be able to identify you.
How Much Can Be Donated
| Item | Funding | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| General cap — 2026 election period | $5,190 | The most a single donor may give to us for this election (covering 15 April to 28 November 2026). From the next election onward the standard cap is $7,500. |
| Disclosure threshold | $1,290 | Give this much or more (in total) and the donation must be publicly disclosed (see below). |
| Anonymous donation limit | $1,290 | We cannot accept anonymous gifts of $1,290 or more – we’ll need your name and address. |
| Small contribution (disregarded for cap) | $61 or less | Don’t count towards the cap. |
| Across organisations | 6 campaigners | By law you may donate to no more than 6 third-party campaigners during the election period. |
If you give more than once we add up your donations across the period.
Once your total would go over $5,190, we can’t accept the excess – by law it must be returned to you or paid to the State. We’ll keep track and let you know if you’re approaching the limit.
What counts as a donation?
A political donation is not just money. It can include:
- Gifts of money
- Services, including paid labour provided free or at a discount
- Loans and guarantees
- Property, including the loan of assets
- Payments made on TPAUS’s behalf by another person or organisation
If you buy something above its market value at one of our fundraisers (for example, an auction item), the extra amount counts as a donation too.
Your Obligations as a Donor
Most of the heavy lifting on reporting sits with us, but you have a few responsibilities:
Disclosure: If your donations to us reach $1,290 or more in the financial year (in one gift, or several added together), the law requires the donation to be disclosed publicly through the VEC’s online system. You must lodge a disclosure return within 21 days, and within 21 days of each donation after that. We’ll tell you when you reach this point and how to do it.
Lodge your disclosure return here. Register for an account with the VEC and follow steps.
Each further gift: Once you’ve reached the threshold, each additional donation you make will need to be returned or it will be absorbed by the state. We will let you know if you go over your threshold.
Don’t split donations: It is an offence to break a donation into smaller amounts to stay under the threshold or cap.
Keep your receipt: We’ll give you a receipt showing the amount and date.
Keep it for your records.
What gets published:
For an individual, the VEC typically publishes your name, suburb and state (not your full address).
For an organisation, full address details are usually published.
Tell us if you are a silent elector.
How Your Donation Is Used
Turning Point Australia is a registered third-party campaigner. That means we campaign on issues during the election but are separate from any political party or candidate. Here’s how your support is handled:
- A dedicated account:
All donations go into a separate state campaign account, kept apart from other funds so that campaign money is clearly tracked. - Campaign activity:
Funds are spent on lawful campaigning – for example advertising (digital, social, print, radio, outdoor), producing and distributing campaign material, voter contact such as mail and phone, research and polling, and the staff and contractor costs of running the campaign. - Clean money only:
We do not use foreign or unlawful donations, and we don’t accept anonymous gifts above $1,290. - Full records:
We keep records of every dollar received and spent, and report them to the VEC. - Public reporting:
We lodge an independently audited annual return with the VEC, which is published.
Donations at or above the threshold appear on the public disclosure register.
How our spending is regulated
The law does not cap how much a third-party campaigner can spend. Instead, it controls the money coming in (the donation cap, the ban on foreign and large anonymous gifts) and requires us to run all campaign spending through a single dedicated account and report it. We always operate within the law.
Questions?
If you’re unsure about any of this before donating, please get in touch with us and we’ll walk you through it. You can also check the rules directly with the VEC:
VEC enquiries:
disclosures@vec.vic.gov.au
Phone 131 832
