Political Donations

Legislation has been introduced which requires every person submitting a development application to City of Newcastle (CN) to disclose information about political donations and gifts.

Making a planning application to CN

If you submit a planning application to CN you are now required to disclose information about political donations and gifts (if any) made by any person with a financial interest in the application.

This includes information about:

  • All reportable political donations made to any local councillor of CN.
  • All gifts made to any local councillor or employee of CN. This information needs to cover the period commencing two years before the application is made and ending when the application is determined.

Making a public submission to CN

If you are making a submission to CN on a development application you are now required to disclose information about political donations and gifts (if any) made by any person with a financial interest in the application.

This includes information about:

  • All reportable political donations made to any local councillor of CN.
  • All gifts made to any local councillor or employee of CN.

This information needs to cover the period commencing two years before the application is made and ending when the application is determined.

Note that according to the legislation donations to a ‘local councillor’ includes a reference to a donation made at the time the person was a candidate for election to Council.

How and when do you make a disclosure?

You need to make a disclosure of political donations or gifts when you submit the planning application or submission (if the donation or gift is made before your application or submission is made).

If the donation or gift is made after you have submitted your planning application or submission you must provide a statement within seven days after the donation or gift is made. This statement should be provided to the person at CN who received your planning application or submission.

Public information

Any disclosure statements of donations and gifts received by CN are available by clicking on the application links below and downloading the Political Donation and Gifts Statement:

Disclosure

Political Donations and Gifts Disclosure Statement Form

Offence to fail to disclose reportabe donations or gifts

Under the Act it is an offence not to provide a disclosure of a political donation or gift.

Further information

Contact our Customer Contact Centre, 12 Stewart Avenue, Newcastle West or telephone 02 4974 2000.

You can also visit the Department of Planning's Website for further information.