So you want to be a mayor or councillor? What will you learn during - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

So you want to be a mayor or councillor?

What will you learn during this seminar?

• During this seminar you will hear about—

– Your opportunity to make a difference as a mayor or councillor – Role of the mayor and councillors – Eligibility to be a mayor or councillor – Campaigning for election as mayor or councillor

Any references to legislation are not an interpretation of the law and are only used as a guide for participants. As the information in this seminar is general in nature and does not take into account individual circumstances or situations, participants should consider whether independent legal advice should be sought where appropriate.

What can you do for your community? As the mayor or councillor for your council you have the

• pportunity to build a better future for your community by

doing the following—

• Provide strategic direction for one of the biggest businesses in

your community

• Advocate your community’s aspirations and needs to other

levels of Government

• Deliver major infrastructure for the benefit of the community
• Work to promote the safety and wellbeing of the community
• Provide efficient and effective local services and facilities

How will the local government principles apply to you? Any action you take or any decision you make as a mayor

• r councillor must be consistent with the local government

principles—

• Transparent and effective processes and decision

making in the public interest

• Sustainable development and management of assets

and infrastructure and delivery of services

• Democratic representation, social inclusion and

meaningful community engagement

• Good governance of, and by, the council
• Ethical and legal behaviours of councillors and council

employees

What will you do as a mayor or councillor?

As the mayor or councillor for your council you will—

• take part in council meetings to make decisions for ‘the

common good’, now and for the future, for the whole council area

• provide leadership to the council and the community
• shape the future of your community by adopting and

implementing the planning scheme which sets out, for example, how land in the council area can be used and the standards the council will require developers to comply with

• be responsible to the community for the performance of the

council

What else would you do as mayor? As mayor, you will do everything that a councillor does and you will also—

• Lead and manage council meetings
• Represent the council and the community at ceremonial

functions

• Prepare and present the council’s annual budget
• Lead and manage the chief executive officer to ensure

council decisions are carried out

What obligations will you have? As a mayor or councillor you will be required to—

• Publicly disclose your personal financial and non-

financial interests

• Ensure that you act in the public interest over any

personal interests you may have

• Ensure your conduct is lawful, ethical and generally

appropriate for an elected representative

• Not misuse information acquired as a mayor or councillor

What will you get paid?

• Each year the Local Government Remuneration and

Discipline Tribunal sets the maximum salary that can be paid to mayors, deputy mayors and councillors

• Your council can resolve to accept less than the

maximum amount set by the Tribunal

• Your council will also decide what expenses it will

reimburse for councillors and what facilities it will provide for councillors to do their job

Are you eligible to be a mayor or councillor?

• In order to be a mayor or a councillor you must:

– be an adult Australian citizen – reside in the council’s area – not be disqualified from being a mayor or councillor – be on the electoral roll

• You are disqualified from being a mayor or councillor if

you:

– have been convicted of treason, electoral offences, bribery or certain offences under the Local Government Act 2009 – are a member of State or Federal Parliament – are a prisoner – are an undischarged bankrupt

What happens when you decide to run?

• You can start your election campaign at any time
• You must maintain a dedicated bank account and use it

for all money received and spent on your campaign

How do you nominate?

• The Electoral Commission will publish a notice calling for

nominations

• Your nomination will need to be received by 12 noon on

the closing date for nominations

• To apply you fill out the form available from the Electoral

Commission and get endorsement from either—

– a political party, or – six electors from your council area

• You will be required to pay a nomination deposit of $250
• It is not possible to nominate as a candidate for both

mayor and councillor

How do you run an election campaign?

• Run your campaign with integrity and honesty
• Ensure that any advertising you authorise complies with

the requirements of the Local Government Electoral Act 2011

• Give your how-to-vote cards to the returning officer for

approval before you start handing or sending them out

• Check with your council to see if there are restrictions for

election signs

How can you fund your election campaign? You are allowed to—

• spend as much as you want to on your campaign
• receive gifts, donations and/or loans to help finance your

campaign All candidates must submit—

• an election return to the Electoral Commission within 15

weeks after the election whether they were successfully elected or not All groups of candidates must also submit—

• an election return to the Electoral Commission within 15

weeks after the election for the group

Where can you get more information?

• Department of Infrastructure, Local Government and

Planning

www.dilgp.qld.gov.au

• Electoral Commission of Queensland

www.ecq.qld.gov.au

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2016 Qld Local Government Elections Information - DILGP