Premier

Lifting Standards For Council Candidates

26 June 2016

It’s four months until Victoria’s council elections and this year voters will have better information on candidates than ever before.

Following consultation, the Andrews Labor Government will change local government electoral regulations. Last changed in 2005, the current regulations are due to expire in August.

The Government is giving candidates the option of supplying more information about themselves, including details of any training they have undertaken to prepare themselves to become a councillor.

The questionnaire will also ask candidates if they have read key council publications and, if the candidate is a current councillor seeking re-election, what their attendance record at council meetings has been.

Another change to the electoral regulations is to better allow for slower mail delivery, the deadline for votes to be received will be increased to five days.

The updated electoral regulations reflect the Government’s work to create more open and transparent councils and will come into effect during July.

Last year, the Government rolled out a new performance reporting framework for councils and launched the Know Your Council website, which reveals and compares the performance of councils across 66 measures.

The Government is also conducting a review of the Local Government Act 1989 to ensure councils are as efficient and effective as they can possibly be.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Local Government Natalie Hutchins

“Victorians voting at this year’s council elections will have more information about their candidates than ever before.”

"Asking candidates to tell the public about training undertaken highlights the importance of improving standards in local government.”

Reviewed 19 August 2020

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