By Parker McKenzie
As two Knox City councillors prepare to have their names on the ballot ahead of the November 26 election, Knox City Council Council has delivered a report considering the issues associated with councillors running as candidates in elections.
The original resolution, bought at the August 2022 meeting, was passed to deliver a report at the September meeting to provide “information regarding the Governance issues associated with Councillors campaigning in state and federal elections, having particular regard to decision-making, advocacy and Councillor allowances”.
Councillor Nicole Seymour, who is running as an independent candidate in the Rowville electorate, said she acknowledged some of her colleagues had concerns about the impact of her candidacy “from a local government act perspective”.
“I’m absolutely pleased that Councillor Grasso and myself have actually gone over and above the requirements of what is expected of us, both of us have done our research beforehand and had put in for a leave of absence longer than we’re expected or needed to,” she said.
“By all accounts are doing our utmost to ensure the integrity of this council is upheld and protected, so I’m very confident with the report as presented.”
Councillor Sorina Grasso, who is the nominated Labor candidate for Croydon, said an earlier defeated motion to delay the report by Councillor Jude Dwight on behalf of an absent Councillor Cooper “didn’t make sense”.
“I knew already that what Councillor Seymour and myself have done was above and beyond the minimum legal requirements,” she said.
“Let’s make a decision on it tonight and let’s support it.”
The report states the Local Government Act 2020 doesn’t require a candidate to take a leave of absence at any period in the lead-up to an election or limit their capacity to perform the role of councillor, however, the Municipal Association of Victoria Guidelines state a candidate should take a leave of absence from the nomination date from the relevant commission, concluding no earlier than the close of voting.
Cr Seymour requested will take a leave of absence from 31 October until 28 November, while Cr Grasso will also take leave during the election period.
Cr Jude Dwight said unfortunately there is “no black and white text and it appears open to interpretation” regarding the report.
“I’m going to quote MAV guidelines eight: a counsellor who is a prospective candidate or a nominated candidate should not use counsellor resources including Council staff, equipment and facilities in relation to their candidacy,” she said.
“Guideline nine: a counsellor who is a prospective candidate or a nominated candidate should not use counsel activities including council meetings, events, networking meetings and council related activities in relation to their candidacy.”
