What are the rules for expenditure caps?

It is unlawful for a political party, candidate, group of candidates, third-party campaigner or associated entity to exceed the applicable cap on electoral expenditure during the capped expenditure period for a state or local Government election.

If the electoral expenditure of a political party, candidate, group of candidates, third-party campaigner or associated entity is less than the applicable cap, the balance is not transferable to another party, candidate, group of candidates, third-party campaigner or associated entity.

The expenditure cap for a candidate or group of candidates is for electoral expenditure directed at the election of the candidate or group.

Electoral expenditure incurred by a candidate or group that is for the election of another candidate or group may be subject to the expenditure cap of the candidate or group that benefits from the expenditure, rather than the expenditure cap of the candidate or group that outlaid the expenditure. In some circumstances such expenditure may be an indirect campaign contribution or a political donation.

Aggregation rules apply to the caps on electoral expenditure of candidates within the same group, and candidates and groups of the same political party, at state elections and local government elections.