Why candidates get a $12,379 repayment even if they lose

Did you know that even if you lose an election, you might still get paid by the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC)?

If at least 4% of voters in an electorate put a ‘1’ next to a candidate’s name, the AEC will automatically reimburse them $12,379 for their campaign costs.

Additional payments are based on how much they or their party spent on the campaign, or how many votes they received overall.

Here’s how it works.

Repayments

Election campaigns are expensive (moreso in the US). For example, candidates and parties spend money on TV and radio ads, posters, and events. This money mainly comes from donors.

Only donations above $16,300 need to be publicly declared.

After the election is held, the AEC undertakes a series of repayments to the candidates and parties for expenses incurred during the campaign.

Round 1

In 2019, the then-Coalition Government introduced an automatic $10,000 payment to political parties and candidates who received more than 4% of first preference votes.

The figure is indexed to inflation (rising prices) twice a year. In May 2025, the automatic payment amount was $12,379.

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The figure applies to races in both the House of Representatives (lower house seats) and Senate (upper house).

The AEC said it has made the first round of payments, amounting to $1,052,215.

26 political parties were eligible for the $12,379 payment, ranging from the major parties and their state divisions (Labor, Liberal, and the Nationals) to minor parties such as Legalise Cannabis.

60 independent candidates met the threshold, up from 41 at the 2022 election.

This reflects a growing trend of voters preferencing minor parties and independents above the major parties.