(1)  The amount to be distributed from the Election Campaigns Fund to a registered party that is, under section 132 , eligible for payments from the Fund in respect of an Assembly general election, or an Assembly by-election, is (subject to subsection (2) ) the lesser of the following:

(a) $6 for each formal first preference vote received by an Assembly candidate –

(i) who was, immediately before the polling day in relation to the election, an Assembly candidate endorsed by the registered party in relation to the Assembly general election or the Assembly by-election; and

(ii) who, when calculated with the formal first preference votes received by all the Assembly candidates endorsed by the registered party and nominated for election within the same division as the Assembly candidate, received at least 4% of the total number of formal first preference votes, for the election, in the division;

(b) the total amount of the campaign expenditure, in respect of the election, incurred by or on behalf of –

(i) the registered party; and

(ii) each candidate of the registered party in the Assembly general election or the Assembly by-election who was, immediately before the polling day in relation to the election, an Assembly candidate endorsed by the registered party.

(2)  The amount of $6 referred to in subsection (1) is an adjustable amount that is to be adjusted for inflation as provided by Schedule 1 .

(3)  Despite subsection (1) , a party may, by notice to the Commission, direct in writing that a part of the amount that is to be distributed to the registered party under subsection (1) be paid to an Assembly candidate to whom that subsection relates in respect of the party.