Disclosure of Political Donations & Gifts
Following is an overview of the new reporting requirements under the planning
and local government legislation in relation to political donations and gifts. This information has been sourced from the NSW Department of Planning Website
Introduction
The Local Government and Planning Legislation Amendment (Political Donations) Act 2008 (the Act) was passed by both houses of the NSW Parliament on 30 June 2008 and will become effective from 15 September 2008.
The Act amends the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (EP&A Act) and the Local Government Act 1993. These amendments require the disclosure of relevant political donations or gifts
when planning or development applications are made to minimise any perception of undue influence by:
·
requiring public disclosure of the political donations or gifts at the time planning or development applications (or public submissions relating to them) are made
·
providing the opportunity for appropriate decisions to be made about the persons who will determine or advise on the determination of the planning applications.
Political donations or gifts are not relevant to the determination of any development application or planning matters, and the making of political donations or gifts does not provide grounds for challenging the determination of a development application or planning decision.
The amendments include requirements that are to be observed by councils, elected councillors and applicants regarding development and development related matters (e.g. environmental planning instruments, development control plans, development applications and formal requests to the Minister or Director-General for development on a particular site to be made State significant development or declared a project to which Part 3A applies).
The amendments also impose disclosure obligations on persons who make a written submission regarding a development application or other planning matter either in support of or opposing such an application.
The amendments include requirements for matters that are to be determined under Part 3, Part 3A and Part 4 of the EP&A Act.
However, the requirements for disclosure of political donations or gifts do not apply to applications for a complying development certificate (or modification of such application) or applications or requests made by a public authority on its own behalf or applications or requests that are excluded by regulations.
Disclosure required for reportable
political donations or gifts
The amendments to the EP&A Act require that:
·
a reportable political donation as defined in the Election Funding and Disclosures Act 1981 (a donation of $1000 or more made to or for the benefit of the party, elected member, group or candidate or made by a major political donor to or for the benefit of a party, elected member, group or candidate, or made to the major political donor), or
·
a gift (as defined in the Election Funding and Disclosures Act 1981) to any local councillor or council employee (and includes a disposition of property or a gift of money or the provision of other valuable or service for no consideration or for inadequate consideration)
·
must be disclosed when a development or planning application is made to a council, the Director-General or the Minister.
A donation of less than $1000 can be a reportable political donation if the aggregated total of such donations made by an entity or person to the same party, elected member, group or candidate or person within the same financial year (ending 30 June) is $1000 or more.
A disclosure is required to be made in a statement accompanying the relevant development or planning application by the person who makes the application. In addition, a person who makes a written submission either objecting to or supporting a relevant development or planning application must also make a disclosure if the person has made a reportable political donation.
Such disclosures are required to cover a period of two years before the application or submission is made and end when the application is determined. If a donation or gift is made after the lodgement of the required disclosure statement, a further statement is required to be provided within seven days after the donation or gift is made.
Disclosure details required
A disclosure statement is required to provide:
·
the name of the party or person for whose benefit the donation was made
·
the date on which the donation was made the name of the donor
·
the residential address of the donor (if an individual) or the registered or official office of
the donor (if an entity)
·
the amount (or value) of the donation
·
if the donor is an entity, the Australian Business Number (ABN).
Similar disclosure details are required in relation to gifts.
Disclosures to be made available to the public
Disclosures of reportable political donations and gifts are to be made available to the public within 14 days by the disclosure being placed on a website maintained by the council (in the case of matters lodged with council) and on a website maintained by the Department of Planning (in the case of matters lodged with the Minister or Director-General) or by advising arrangements for their access on such websites.
Political donation disclosure register required
The amendments to the Local Government Act 1993 require councils to keep a register of copies of current declarations of disclosures of political donations lodged with the Election Funding Authority by or on behalf of councillors (including in their capacity as candidates for election as councillors).
General Manager may refer suspected non-compliance to the Director General of the Department of Local Government
If a General Manager reasonably suspects that a councillor has not complied with the provisions of the code of conduct under section 440 of the Local Government Act, (relating to the disclosure of political donations or the manner of dealing with any perceived conflict of interest in relation to political donations) the General Manager is to refer the matter to the Director General of the Department of Local Government who may refer it to the Pecuniary Interest and Disciplinary Tribunal.
Register of planning decisions required
The General Manager is required to keep a register containing (for each planning decision made at a council or committee meeting) the names of councillors who supported the decision and those that opposed the decision. To maintain the register, the amendments require that a division be called whenever a planning decision is put at a council or committee meeting, including meetings closed to the public.
Offence to fail to disclose reportable donations or gifts
The amendments to the EP&A Act make it an offence if a disclosure of a reportable political donation or gift is not made in accordance with the Act.
Further Information
A copy of the Local Government and Planning Legislation Amendment (Political Donations) Act
2008
is available on the NSW Parliamentary Counsel’s office website: www.legislation.nsw.gov.au.
A circular setting out the implications of the amendments to the Local Government Act 1993 is
available on the Department of Local Government Website www.dlg.nsw.gov.au.
This and other Department of Planning circulars are published on the web at
www.planning.nsw.gov.au/planningsystem/practicenotes.
Click on the link below to access the Statement of Political Donations & Gifts form.
Erection of single dwellings, single dwelling alterations & additions, swimming pools
- Requires an application for Development Consent and a Construction Certificate
- Owners Consent (item 18)
- 4 copies of location plan (item 11)
- 4 copies of plans describing the proposed development (item 12)
- 3 copies of specifications
- Plans to be stamped by the Hunter Water Corporation if plans for development are within an area covered by Hunter Water Corporation, sewer and/or connection to Hunter Water Corporation mains (item 14)
- Fees – refer to Council's fee structure
- Development fee is only required if property is situated within a Heritage Conservation Area or is an Item of Significance or within a Rural Zone
- Fee for the Construction Certificate is calculated on the estimated cost of the building
- Compliance Certificate fee is calculated on the estimated cost of the development
- Long Service Levy fee is calculated on the estimated cost, for any development $25,000 and over.
- Home Warranty Insurance – where a builder is known a copy of the Home Warranty Insurance must be submitted.
NOTE: If your application is within a mine subsidence area, your application will be referred to the Mine Subsidence Board by Council.
Commerical & Industrial
- Requires an application for Development Consent and a Construction Certificate
- Owners Consent (item 18)
- 4 copies of location plan (item 11)
- 4 copies of plans describing the proposed development (item 12)
- 6 copies of notification plans
- 3 copies of specifications
- Plans to be stamped by the Hunter Water Corporation if plans for development are within an area covered by Hunter Water Corporation, sewer and/or connection to Hunter Water Corporation mains (item 14)
- Fees – refer to Council's fee structure
- Development fee is calculated on the estimated cost of the development
- Fee for the Construction Certificate is calculated on the estimated cost of the building
- Compliance Certificate fee is calculated on the estimated cost of the development
- Long Service Levy fee is calculated on the estimated cost, for development $25,000 and over.
- Statement of Environmental Effects
- Fire Safety Statement
NOTE: If your application is within a mine subsidence area, your application will be referred to the Mine Subsidence Board by Council.
Change of use of Land
- Only requires approval for Development Consent, if any internal or external alterations be carried out. A Construction Certificate will also be required or if the Change of use is from a shop to an office, office to a shop or retail shop to food shop. No approval is required if the Change of use is from a shop to a shop or an office to an office.
- Owners Consent
- 4 copies of location plan (item 11)
- 4 copies of plans describing the proposed development (item 12)
- Fees – refer to Council's fee structure
- Development fee is $170.00
- If required the fee for the Construction Certificate is calculated on the estimated cost of the building
- If required the fee for the Compliance Certificate is calculated on the estimated cost of the development
- If required the fee for the Long Service Levy fee is calculated on the estimated cost, for development $25,000 and over.
- Statement of Environmental Effects
- Fire Safety Statement
NOTE: If your application is within a mine subsidence area, your application will be referred to the Mine Subsidence Board by Council.
Subdivision of Land
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