Premier

Nominations Now Open For Council Elections

15 September 2016

Nominations have today opened for Victorians to nominate as candidates for their local council elections, with a total of 636 vacancies will be contested across 78 councils at October’s general elections.

Candidates have until noon on September 20 to lodge their nomination with the Victorian Electoral Commission.

For the first time, more information can be provided by candidates including details of any training they have undertaken to prepare themselves to become a councillor, if they are endorsed by a political party and if they have read key council publications.

The 2016 council elections also represent a golden opportunity for the state’s councils to become the most diverse in history.

The Andrews Labor Government has made a particular push this year to encourage more women to consider serving their community on council and has provided $50,000 to the VLGA for the GoWomenLG 2016 project, which aims to increase the number of female candidates across the state.

The funding builds on existing work and focuses on encouraging women from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island and culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds to consider nominating as candidates.

This year’s elections will also see the return of elected councillors to the City of Brimbank and the Rural City of Wangaratta.

For more information on how to nominate and to download a candidate handbook, call the VEC on 13 18 32 or visit vec.vic.gov.auExternal Link

Quotes attributable to Minister for Local Government Natalie Hutchins

“Councils in Victoria have the opportunity to cement their reputation as the most gender diverse in Australia.”

“This is our chance to have councils that truly represent the communities they serve.”

Reviewed 19 August 2020

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