City adopts candidate rules, but critics say policy falls short

The City of Greater Geelong has drawn a clearer line between council business and political campaigning, adopting its first-ever guidelines for councillors seeking state or federal office.

The policy sets out expectations for councillors who nominate as candidates while continuing to serve in local government, as November’s state election edges closer.

But while the vote was unanimous on Tuesday night, the debate was not, with some councillors arguing the policy lacks bite and relies largely on goodwill rather than enforceable rules.

Cr Melissa Cadwell said implementing guidelines was necessary but maintained the policy did not go far enough.

She pointed to former mayor Stephanie Asher, who remained in the role for six months after being confirmed as the Liberal Party candidate in the seat of Corangamite in the 2022 federal election.

“I don’t think that decision passed the pub test in the minds of our community,” she said.

The absence of clear guidelines at the time, Cr Cadwell said, had left the council exposed to criticism and community frustration.

But on Tuesday, she warned the new policy still fell short of meaningful accountability.

“Council doesn’t have any power to enforce these guidelines, and we can’t amend the legal requirements that are detailed within them,” she said.

“We can’t specify how a councillor should manage their dual and competing roles of councillor and candidate. We can’t require that they disclose any relevant conflicts of interest. We can’t require that they take a leave of absence. And we can’t require that they step down from any leadership role.

“It remains for councillors themselves to manage those issues.”

Cr Anthony Aitken backed the guidelines, but said they were “minimalist”, arguing they had been largely “cut and pasted” from existing governance requirements, and lacked the strength of similar measures adopted in neighbouring municipalities.

The Surf Coast Shire has had guidelines in place since 2018, which Cr Aitken said have “more teeth in them”.

Under the guidelines adopted by the city on Tuesday, councillors who nominate as state or federal candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for a leave of absence.

They must not use council resources for election purposes and must clearly separate their role as a councillor from their role as a candidate when commenting on council matters.

The policy also requires councillors to proactively identify and manage conflicts of interest, and to refrain from any misuse of their position, influence or access to information for electoral advantage.

Any councillor successfully elected to state or federal parliament must resign from council immediately, in line with the Local Government Act.

The new framework is already facing its first test.

Cr Ron Nelson, who is seeking Liberal Party preselection for the state seat of South Barwon, stepped down from his role as deputy mayor at the start of Tuesday’s meeting.

Cr Nelson will remain on the council and a new deputy mayor will be elected at a special council meeting on 3 March.