Becoming a Council Member
On this page:
- Information for prospective candidates
- Local government candidate induction
- Electoral gifts
- Disclosure period
- Election signs/advertising
- Returning Officer
- Further information
Information for prospective candidates
If you are considering nominating for Council at this year's Local Government Elections, please watch this brief video and review the City's Information for Prospective Candidates below.
Download the Prospective Candidates Keynote presentation (PDF)
Nominations open Thursday 31 August 2023 and close at 4pm on Thursday 7 September 2023. This year's election will be held on Saturday 21 October 2023.
A Candidate Information Webinar, hosted at WALGA and featuring presentations from the Electoral Commission, the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries and WALGA staff, was held on Monday, 14 August 2023. As well as information about key processes and the role of Council Members, the webinar included a Question-and-Answer session addressing queries from participants. A recording of the webinar can be viewed below.
Eligibility
To nominate to become a Council Member (Mayor or Councillor) you must:
- be 18 years of age or older;
- be an Australian citizen;
- not be disqualified from being a Council Member under a provision of the Local Government Act 1995;
- be an elector of the City of Wanneroo (if you are only an elector because you are a nominee of a company then you are not eligible to stand as a candidate);
- have a term that ends on Election Day unless you are standing for Mayor if you are a current Council Member
Nominations are to be finalised and lodged in person with the City’s Returning Officer, who is responsible for the local government elections once the nomination period opens.
Please visit the Elections WA website for further information.
For more information on the role of Council Members please visit the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries' website.
The Western Australian Electoral Commission also provides information for prospective candidates.
Local government candidate induction
Laws have been introduced which makes it compulsory for all candidates nominating in a local government election to complete the Department’s online induction. You will be asked to declare that you have completed the online induction when filling out your nomination form. It is an offence to make false or misleading statements on the nomination form.
For more information, and to complete the induction please click below:
Local government candidate induction
Electoral gifts
Candidates in local government elections have legislative obligations for the disclosure of gifts leading up to the local government elections. The Local Government (Elections) Regulations 1997 requires both candidates and donors to make disclosures of gifts given to candidates during the specified disclosure period.
Disclosure period
Within three days of nomination, any candidate in a local government election will need to disclose any gifts received within the disclosure period. The disclosure period commences six months prior to the Election Day. The disclosure period finishes three days after Election Day (for unsuccessful candidates) and on the start day for financial interest returns for successful candidates.
Election signs/advertising
An election sign is a sign which encourages a person to vote for a particular political candidate, political party, referenda or matter relating to any Federal, State, or Local Government election, however, excludes bumper stickers. To find out about the requirements for election signs, please refer to the Signage web page.
Returning Officer
The City’s Returning Officer is appointed by the Western Australian Electoral Commission and is responsible for the conduct and processes associated with the City of Wanneroo local government elections. The Returning Officer can provide further information to the election process.