40. If there are limits on the amount a political party can spend, what is the limit?

"206C Maximum amount of party’s total election expenses

(1) If a party is listed in the part of the ballot paper that relates to the party vote, the total election expenses of that party in respect of any regulated period must not exceed—

(a)  $1,139,000 (or such other amount as is prescribed by the Governor-Gen- eral by Order in Council under section 266A); and

(b)  $26,800 (or such other amount as is prescribed by the Governor-General by Order in Council under section 266A) for each electoral district con- tested by a candidate for the party. 

(2)  If a party is not listed in the part of the ballot paper that relates to the party vote, the total election expenses of that party in respect of any regulated period must not exceed $26,800 for each electoral district contested by a candidate for the party.

(3)  The amounts in subsections (1) and (2) are inclusive of goods and services tax." 

Section 206C, Electoral Act of 1993

"80D Cost funded from party allocation not party election expense

(1)  Any cost specified in section 74(1) that is paid by the Electoral Commission from the amount of money allocated to a party under section 79 is not an elec- tion expense of the party that must be included by the party in its return of elec- tion expenses under section 206I of the Electoral Act 1993.

(2)  However, any cost specified in section 74(1) incurred in relation to an election programme or election advertisement that is paid by the Electoral Commission from the amount of money allocated to a party under section 79 is,—

(a)  to the extent that programme or advertisement is a candidate election programme or candidate advertisement, a candidate donation that must be included by the candidate in his or her return of donations under section 209 of the Electoral Act 1993; and

(b)  to the extent that programme or advertisement is a candidate advertise- ment, an election expense of a candidate that must be included by the candidate in his or her return of election expenses under section 205K of the Electoral Act 1993." 

Section 80D, Broadcasting (Election Programmes and Election Advertising) Amendment Act 2017

NB: the amounts are adjusted for inflation
NB2: These amounts do not include the broadcasting allocation received by the party