Victoria moves to tighten rules for councillors eyeing parliament

Proposed legislation in Victoria aims to tighten rules for councillors who seek to run for state or federal parliament. The amendments would require councillors to step down or take leave if they pre-select or nominate for a higher office. The proposed rule applies to elections on or after January 1, 2027.

Currently, there are no legal obligations for councillors to step down during an election race. Councilors can keep their election campaign and council work separate, but the lack of explicit guidance leaves the decision up to each individual. Under the proposed changes, councillors would be required to take a leave of absence once they officially nominate, enforcing the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) guidelines.

Councillors would also have to notify the chief executive of their candidacy and the election they are contesting. Failure to do so would result in a fine of $25,092. The new rules would only apply to elections on or after January 1, 2027.

Mayors and deputy mayors would be required to stand down earlier than the day of nomination. All councillors would have to notify the chief executive when they declare their candidacy. If a councillor is a member of a political party, they must inform the chief executive as soon as possible after pre-selection. If they are not a member of a party, they must do so as soon as possible after publicly announcing their intention to be a candidate.

The proposed rules aim to provide clear guidelines for councillors to manage potential conflicts of interest during election periods. The amendments were introduced by Labor MP Paul Hamer, who believes it is essential for councils to continue operating effectively during state elections and for the community to know who represents the council and who is campaigning as a parliamentary candidate.