This was published 8 years ago
Queenslanders cop million-dollar bill for failing to vote, ECQ report shows
By Felicity Caldwell
More than $7 million was paid out to Queensland political parties following the 2015 state election.
The Liberal National Party of Queensland was the biggest winner - despite losing the election - receiving $3.24 million in election funding, approved by the Electoral Commission of Queensland.
More than $1 million in fines was collected in 2015-16 from Queenslanders who failed to vote.
The Australian Labor Party Queensland received $2.94 million, The Greens received $450,099, Palmer United Party (PUP) received $358,241, Katter's Australian Party received $148,168, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Queensland Division received $53,033 and Family First Party Queensland received $12,051.
The Greens, PUP, One Nation and Family First all failed to score any seats in the House following the 2015 Queensland election.
In September, PUP applied to have its registration as a political party cancelled.
Meanwhile, $1.05 million in fines were collected in 2015-16 from Queenslanders who failed to vote, to be remitted to the Queensland Treasury.
It was a large increase on the previous year, when $375,004 was collected in relation to failure to vote at the Stafford state by-election, the 2015 state election and four local government by-elections.
The total participation rate for the 2016 local government elections was 83.04 per cent, with an informality rate of 4.34 per cent.
The figures were detailed in the Electoral Commission of Queensland's annual report, which also showed candidates were paid $3.6 million in election funding for the 2015 state election.
To be eligible, candidates must receive six per cent of the formal first preference (FFP) vote for their district.
Political parties may claim election funding for eligible candidates endorsed by the party. Funding is calculated at $2.991 per FFP vote for eligible registered political parties.
Policy development payments are also made to eligible political parties biannually.
The Australian Labor Party Queensland received two payments of $696,657.27 in 2015-16 for the prior financial year for policy development.
Katter's Australian Party received two payments of $35,105.91 and LNP Queensland received two payments of $768,236.82.