As of 1 September 2008, political donations or electoral expenditure of $1000 or more must be disclosed under the Election Funding and Disclosures Act 1981, when making planning applications or submissions in respect to planning applications.
Relevant Planning Applications
A relevant planning application includes:
- A formal request to the Minister, a Council or the Director General to initiate the making of an environmental planning instrument or development control plan in relation to a particular site;
- A formal request to the Minister or Director General for development on a particular site to be made State Significant or declared a Part 3A development;
- An application for approval of a concept plan or a project under Part 3A;
- An application for a development consent under Part 4; and
- Any other application or request under or for the purpose of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act that is prescribed by the Regulations as a relevant planning application.
Certain planning applications are not relevant planning applications, including:
- Applications for complying development certificates;
- An application made for or on behalf of a public authority; and
- Any application excluded by the Regulations.
When and how to make a declaration
Disclosure statements are to be made in a statement accompanying the relevant planning application or submission if the donation or gift is made before the application or submission is made.
Where the gift or donation is made after the relevant planning application is made, disclosure must be made within 7 days of the gift or donation being made.
Use the 
Political Donations and Gifts Disclosure Statement Form (PDF 129.3KB) to make a declaration.
Past Declarations
Visit the Election Funding Authority website for more information and to search and view copies of previous declarations lodged by Councillors