29. What are the eligibility criteria for political parties to receive public funding?

"78 Criteria for allocating money to party

(1)  A party may only receive an allocation of the money referred to in section 74 if the party—

(a)  has provided to the Electoral Commission a notice in accordance with section 76; and

(b)  was registered on the Register of Political Parties at the time of the dis- solution or expiry of Parliament.

...

...

80 Electoral Commission may vary allocation

(1)  The Electoral Commission may vary a decision made under section 79 if a party to which an amount of money is allocated—

...

(b)  ceases to be registered; or

(c)  fails to submit a list of candidates for election under section 127 of the Electoral Act 1993; or

(d)  fails to comply with any conditions imposed by the Electoral Commission under section 79(1)(b).

(2)  The Electoral Commission may also vary a decision made under section 79 if there has been a significant change in the relationship between a party that has received an allocation of money and any other party. 

(3)  The Electoral Commission may vary a decision made under section 79 without affording to any party the opportunity to—

(a)  meet with the Electoral Commission; or

(b)  comment on the proposed variation.

(4)  In varying a decision made under section 79, the Electoral Commission must have regard to—

(a)  the views of parties received in the course of consultations undertaken in accordance with section 77; and

(b)  the matters specified in sections 78 and 79(3).

(5)  If an allocation of money made to a party has been spent (in whole or in part), the Electoral Commission must not vary that allocation unless—

(a)  the registration of the party is cancelled under section 70 of the Electoral Act 1993; or

(b)  the party secretary has failed to submit a list of candidates for election under section 127 of the Electoral Act 1993."

Sections 78 and 80 of the Broadcasting (Election Programmes and Election Advertising) Amendment Act 2017