Candidates

To become a candidate in a Council election or by-election, you must be enrolled on the voters’ roll for the election. As Council is divided into 9 wards and you can be a candidate for any of these.

The VEC provide information for candidates and parties on becoming a candidate in a council election or by-election. This covers:

• handbooks and forms
• campaigning
• funding and donations 

Qualifications

To be a candidate for a local council election, you must: 

• be an Australian citizen or an eligible British subject referred to in section 48(1)(a) of the Constitution Act 1975
• be aged 18 years of age
• be enrolled on the voters' roll for the council in which you wish to stand
• have completed the mandatory Local Government Candidate Training if you haven't completed the training in the 2 years before the election day
• not be disqualified from being a councillor. 

The Election Manager appointed by the VEC will reject a nomination from a person who is not enrolled on the voters’ roll for the election. 

Disqualifications

You cannot be a candidate for any of the following reasons: 

• you are an undischarged bankrupt
• you have property that is subject to control under the law relating to bankruptcy
• you are a member of council staff of the council. You can take leave from this role in order to nominate
• you have been convicted of any of the criminal offences referred to in section 34(2) of the Act
• you are a councillor with another council, including interstate councils
• you are member of an Australian Parliament, including the Federal Parliament or a Member of Parliament in any state or territory of the Commonwealth of Australia
• you are employed by a Federal or State Member of Parliament as a Ministerial Officer, a Parliamentary Adviser or an Electorate Officer. You can take leave from these roles in order to nominate
  or
• you are otherwise incapable of becoming or continuing to be a councillor. 

Further details are outlined in the Local Government Act 2020.