Overview of the Structure Part 7: Regulation of Parties
31.Part 7 of the Act contains provisions on several topics relevant to the regulation of political parties. In particular it provides for the regulation of loans (and other related transactions) to political parties. Restrictions are imposed on the sources from which parties may obtain loans and there is established a new reporting regime for such transactions similar to that which currently applies to donations. The other topics are:
	registered names of political parties;
	political party descriptions to be used on nomination or ballot papers;
	confirmation of particulars of registered political parties;
	removal from the register of registered political parties; and
	time for registration of political parties fielding candidates.
32.There are also provisions to:
	allow additional time for political parties to deliver their unaudited accounts to the Electoral Commission;
	increase time limits for payment of campaign expenditure; and
	amend the reporting requirements on political parties who receive low levels of donations, or none at all, by removing the need for repeated reporting of nil returns for donations.