The consultation on the draft Election Period Policy amendment has now closed. Thank you for your feedback - please follow this page for updates.

Section 69 of the Local Government Act 2020 requires an Election Period Policy to be established and incorporated in Council’s Governance Rules. The proposed amendments to the Policy have no impact on any aspect of the Governance Rules.

To ensure prospective candidates and nominated candidates, whether a Councillor or Council officer, maintain integrity leading up to and during an election, the draft Policy has been slightly amended to strengthen the requirements, primarily for any officers considering candidacy. The draft Policy also provides for minor administrative updates.

Some of the amendments made to the Policy are:

  • 2.2 Council Meetings
    • Councillors are prohibited from promoting their election campaign or individual policy positions during any Council meeting.
    • Council officers are prohibited from approaching Councillors leading up to an election in attempt to gain an advantage or benefit in exchange for a formal decision to be made by the Council.
  • 3 Application of Resources
    • 3.1.6 - A Councillor or Council officer must not place any election materials on or in any Council owned or operated facility or land.
  • 8.8 Social Media
    • 8.8.3 Councillors who stand as a candidate in any Local, State or Federal election must comply with the Councillor Social Media Policy.
  • 9 Council Resources
    • 9.1.3 Any Council officer misusing their position to gain or attempt to gain, directly or indirectly, an advantage for themselves or any other person or to cause or attempt to cause detriment to Council or another person may breach the Employee Code of Conduct. Circumstances involving the misuse of a position that is improper or unauthorised may result in disciplinary action.
  • 10.3 Councillors
    • Councillors are strongly encouraged to take formal leave of absence well before the commencement of campaigning in parliamentary elections in order to both avoid the risk of breaching conflict of interest and misuse of position provisions in the Act.
  • 10.4 Council Employees
    • Council Employees will not use their position or their access to other Council employees and other Council resources to gain media attention in support of an election campaign
Draft Election Period Policy with tracked changes open in new window