Legislation has been introduced which requires every person submitting a development application to Council to disclose information about political donations and gifts.

Making a planning application to Council

if you submit a planning application to Council 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:

(a) All reportable political donations made to any local councillor of Council

(b) All gifts made to any local councillor or employee of Council.

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 Council

If you are making a submission to Council 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:

(a) all reportable political donations made to any local councillor of Council

(b) all gifts made to any local councillor or employee of Council.

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 Council who received your planning application or submission.

Public information

All disclosure statements of donations and gifts will be made publicly available on Council’s website.

Disclosure form

 Politcal donations and Gifts Disclosure Statement explanatory information (359kb)

 Poliltical Donations and Gifts Disclosure Statement form (275kb)

Offence to fail to disclose reportable donations or gifts

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

Further information

Contact the Newcastle City Council's Customer Enquiry Centre, 282 King Street, Newcastle or telephone 02 4974 2030.

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