City delays move on councillor leave laws

A City of Greater Geelong push to introduce mandatory leave for councillors running for higher office has been put on hold, with the council this week voting to defer the proposal.

The motion sought to have the Municipal Association of Victoria, the peak body for local government, lobby the state government for legislative change that would require councillors to step aside during election campaigns.

It follows a set of election guidelines, adopted by the council in February, aimed at drawing a clearer line between council duties and political campaigning.

The guidelines encourage councillors running in either a state or federal election to take leave, but the council does not have the power under the Local Government Act to enforce it.

On Tuesday, councillors unanimously backed a deferral moved by Cr Emma Sinclair, who cited a “misalignment” between the motion and the recently endorsed guidelines.

“I don’t think that all the information that we need to make an effective decision, in relation to this, is before us,” she said.

Under the proposal, councillors running for state or federal office would have to step aside from their council role for the duration of the campaign, and would not receive allowances during that time.

It would also give councils flexibility to adjust quorum requirements so business can continue, and set clearer rules around campaign activity, including the use of council resources and social media.

Council officers said the changes would “promote integrity, continuity of governance and public confidence in local government decision-making” and support greater consistency across the sector.