77Prepayment on lodgment of claims

#### 77 Prepayment on lodgment of claims 77 Prepayment on lodgment of claims (cf section 69 EFED Act) > > (1) If the Electoral Commission is unable to finalise a claim for payment lodged on behalf of a party within 14 days, the Electoral Commission is required to make a preliminary payment within that period of 14 days. > > > (2) The preliminary payment is to be of an amount equal to 90% of the total amount estimated by the Electoral Commission to be payable to the party, reduced by the amount of any advance payments made for the election concerned. > > > (3) In making an estimate under this section, the Electoral Commission may, but need not, rely on information contained in the claim lodged by the party. > > > (4) If a party receives a preliminary payment in excess of the amount (if any) to which it becomes entitled under a claim for payment, the amount of the excess must be repaid to the Electoral Commission within 60 days after the Electoral Commission notifies the party. > > > (5) The amount of any such excess may be recovered by the Electoral Commission as a debt in any court of competent jurisdiction.