4.10 Political Party Expenses

Expenses incurred by a political party or a member of a party acting in their role as a party officer are not official costs and must not be paid from Government funds.

Any direct costs paid to a political party eg. entry fees to a function, fund raising, donations or travel by party members are considered private in nature, are not official costs and should not be paid from a Government source.

Examples

• Travel by members of a political party to visit an infrastructure project being constructed is not official travel and should not be paid for by Ministerial or Department funds.
• Any political party advertising or marketing where party logos are used is not official in nature and should not be paid for by Ministerial or Departmental funds.

Notwithstanding the above, instances may occur where a political party or unelected party member may obtain a benefit from expenses incurred primarily for the official purpose and any party benefit would be immaterial. (Eg. an unelected party member may obtain food at a public function or, a party official may get a lift with a Minister in their official vehicle).

Costs such as travel or hospitality incurred by bi-partisan standing or select Parliamentary Committees, are generally covered from funds allocated to the Parliament of Queensland.

Departmental related costs incurred for a Ministers backbench committee may be official costs. Such costs must be reasonable for the circumstances.

Example

• A Minister may require their department to arrange an inspection of new facilities for a backbench committee. Reasonable costs for travel and for briefing committee members may be met by the Department.

4.10.1 Political Party Meetings

Policy

Where a Minister is required to attend meetings, conferences or conventions of a political party in their official capacity as a Minister of the Crown, costs reasonably associated with such attendance and costs associated with the attendance of staff required to assist the Minister in this official capacity may be charged to the Office of the Minister.

However, as it is not appropriate for government funds to be paid to political parties, the cost of entry fees, meals and other direct costs paid to the political party in connection with the function are to be met personally by the Minister and any accompanying staff member. (NB: Staff may be entitled to a meal allowance).

It should be noted that it is commom business practice that keynote speakers at official functions are not charged for entry fees and meals.

Attendance at political party meetings falls under the scope of Parliamentary business in the Members' Entitlements Handbook.

As such, where a Minister's attendance at a meeting does not meet the above requirements, the Minister is able to draw on their Parliamentary entitlements as an MP. However, claims for the same item must not be made under both.

Examples

• Where the Minister is invited to speak on portfolio related matters at a political party function and requires a Senior Advisor to attend to provide assistance, the following costs may be charged to the Office of the Minister:
  • travel to and from the function, including accommodation and travel meals; and
  • staff meal allowances if the entitlement exists.

  The following costs would be personal costs and not be chargeable to the Office of the Minister:

  • entry fees; and
  • donations and meal costs paid directly to the political party, as these would represent payments of Government funds to a political party.
• Where the Minister is simply invited to a political fundraising function as a Minister, but not to speak on portfolio matters, this would not be a sufficient reason for costs to be charged to the Office of the Minister.

Last reviewed: 17 July, 2009

Last updated: 22 July, 2009

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