Papua New Guinea
2016
Bans and limits on private income
Public funding
Regulations of spending
Reporting, oversight and sanctions
| Question | Value |
|---|---|
1. Is there a ban on donations from foreign interests to political parties? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Ban in law only applies to international organizations, not to personal and corporate non-citizens, but 2010 Supreme Court ruling seems to also mean a ban on donations from such actors. International organisations are allowed to make donations to the Central Fund providing funding for all parties.
|
2. Is there a ban on donations from foreign interests to candidates? |
Code
No
Comment
Foreign individuals and corporations are explicitly allowed to make donations.
|
3. Is there a ban on corporate donations to political parties? |
Code
No
Comment
No bans on corporate donations to political parties in law. |
4. Is there a ban on corporate donations to candidates? |
Code
No
|
5. Is there a ban on donations from Trade Unions to political parties? |
Code
No
|
6. Is there a ban on donations from Trade Unions to candidates? |
Code
No
|
7. Is there a ban on anonymous donations to political parties? |
Code
Yes
|
8. Is there a ban on anonymous donations to candidates? |
Code
Yes
Comment
No direct ban, but de facto ban through requirement to record or report identity of donor.
|
9. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with government contracts to political parties? |
Code
No
|
10. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with government contracts to candidates? |
Code
No
|
11. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with partial government ownership to political parties? |
Code
No
|
12. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with partial government ownership to candidates? |
Code
No
|
13. Is there a ban on the use of state resources in favour or against a political party or candidate? |
Code
No data
|
14. Is there a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during a non-election specific period? |
Code
Yes, for both natural and legal persons
Comment
There is a limit on the amount that can be contributed directly to a political party but no limit on the amount that can be contributed to the Central Fund. Source
Article 79.'(1) Subject to this section, a citizen may contribute to ?(a) the Central Fund, to an unlimited extent; and(b) a political party, to an extent provided by Subsection (2)(a)''(2) Subject to Subsection (4), contributions made by a citizen ?(a) under Subsection (1)(b) ? shall not exceed the sum of K500, 000.00 in total in any calendar year'Article 81.'(1) Subject to this section, a non-citizen may contribute to ?(a) the Central Fund, to an unlimited extent; and(b) a registered political party, to an extent provided by Subsection (2)(a)''(2) Subject to Subsection (4), contributions made by a non-citizen ?(a) under Subsection (1)(b) ? shall not exceed the sum of K500, 000.00 in total in any calendar year' (Source: Organic Law on the Integrity of Political Parties and Candidates, 2003) |
15. If there is a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during a non-election specific period, what is the limit? |
Code
Annual limit is PGK 500,000 [I$ 471,000]
Comment
The limit applies per calender year to contributions made to a specific party, citizens and non-citizens are allowed to contribute to an unlimited extent to the Central Fund.
|
16. Is there a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during an election? |
Code
No
Comment
Regular limit applies |
17. If there is a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during an election, what is the limit? |
Code
Not applicable
|
18. Is there a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a candidate? |
Code
Yes, for both natural and legal persons
Comment
Limit on the amount that can be contributed to a specific candidate but no limit on the amount that can be contributed to the Central Fund. Source
Article 79(1-2):'(1) Subject to this section, a citizen may contribute to ?(a) the Central Fund, to an unlimited extent; and[...](c) a candidate, to an extent provided by Subsection (2)(b).(2) Subject to Subsection (4), contributions made by a citizen ?[...](b) under Subsection (1)(c) ? shall not exceed the sum of K500, 000.00 in respect of any one election.'Article 81(1-2):'(1) Subject to this section, a non-citizen may contribute to ?(a) the Central Fund, to an unlimited extent; and[...](c) a candidate, to an extent provided by Subsection (2)(b).(2) Subject to Subsection (4), contributions made by a citizen ?[...](b) under Subsection (1)(c) ? shall not exceed the sum of K500, 000.00 in respect of any one election.' (Source: Organic Law on the Integrity of Political Parties and Candidates, 2003) |
19. If there is a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a candidate, what is the limit? |
Code
Limit is PGK 500,000 [I$ 471,000]
|
20. Is there a limit on the amount a candidate can contribute to their own election campaign? |
|
21. Is there a limit on in-kind donations to political parties? |
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22. Is there a limit on in-kind donations to candidates? |
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23. Is there a ban on political parties engaging in commercial activities? |
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24. Is there a ban on political parties taking loans in relation to election campaigns? |
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25. Is there a ban on candidates taking loans in relation to election campaigns? |
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26. Is there a ban on donors to political parties/candidates participating in public tender/procurement processes? |
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27. Are there provisions requiring donations to go through the banking system? |
| Question | Value |
|---|---|
28. Are there provisions for direct public funding to political parties? |
Code
Yes, regularly
Comment
The public funding is provided through the Central Fund, which can also receive funding from citizens, non-citizens, international organisations, and the Election Commission. The amounts of public funding to the Central Fund each year is regulated by law.
|
29. What are the eligibility criteria for political parties to receive public funding? |
Code
|
30. What is the allocation calculation for political parties to receive public funding? |
Code
Proportional to seats received
Women Comment
- Proportional to seats in the parliament. - Extra funding to parties according to number of female candidates nominated who did not win a seat but obtained at least 10% of the votes. - Possible extra funding distributed equally to all parties.
|
31. What are the provisions on 'ear marking' direct public funding to political parties (how it should be used)? |
Code
No
|
32. Are there provisions for free or subsidized access to media for political parties? |
Code
No
|
33. What criteria determine allocation for free or subsidized access to media for political parties? |
Code
Not applicable
|
34. Are there provisions for free or subsidized access to media for candidates? |
Code
No
|
35. Are there provisions for any other form of indirect public funding? |
Code
Comment
All candidates are provided with posters by the EMB. Parliamentary candidates are allowed to deduct campaign expenditure from their taxable income.
|
36. Is the provision of direct public funding to political parties tied to gender equality among candidates? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Parties receive K7,500 [I$ 7,100] or an amount set by the EMB for each woman candidate who wins at least 10% of the vote.
|
37. Are there provisions for other financial advantages to encourage gender equality in political parties? |
Code
No
|
| Question | Value |
|---|---|
38. Is there a ban on vote buying? |
Code
Yes
|
39. Are there limits on the amount a political party can spend? |
Code
No
|
40. If there are limits on the amount a political party can spend, what is the limit? |
Code
Not applicable
|
41. Are there limits on the amount a candidate can spend? |
Code
No
|
42. If there are limits on the amount a candidate can spend, what is the limit? |
Code
Not applicable
|
43. Are there limits on the amount that third parties can spend on election campaign activities? |
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44. Are there limits on traditional media advertising spending in relation to election campaigns? |
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45. Are there limits on online media advertising spending in relation to election campaigns? |
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46. Do any other restrictions on online media advertisement (beyond limits) exist? |
| Question | Value |
|---|---|
47. Do political parties have to report regularly on their finances? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Annually
|
48. Do political parties have to report on their election campaign finances? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Report on details on contributions, other sources of income, and expenditures.
|
49. Do candidates have to report on their election campaign finances? |
Code
Yes
|
50. Do third parties have to report on election campaign finances? |
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51. Is information in reports from political parties and/or candidates to be made public? |
Code
No
|
52. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates reveal the identity of donors? |
Code
Yes
|
53. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates include information on itemized income? |
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54. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates include information on itemized spending? |
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55. Which institution(s) receives financial reports from political parties and/or candidates? |
Code
Special agency for political finance
Comment
The Registry of Political Parties, an administrative unit under the Integrity of Political Parties and Candidates Commission.
|
56. Which institution(s) is responsible for examining financial reports and/or investigating violations? |
Code
Other
Comment
- The Office of the Registar for Political Parties
- The Integrity of Political Parties and Candidates Commission for further investigation |
57. What power is granted to the institution(s) responsible for examining reports and/or investigating violations? |
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58. What sanctions are provided for political finance infractions? |
Code
Comment
The political party regains the right to public funding when the illegal contribution has been paid to the Central Fund. Not submitting two consecutive annual financial reports can lead to the party being deregistered.
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