Election and Voting
For information on State electoral boundaries, political representatives and voting contact the Victorian Electoral commission on 131 832.
Victorian Electoral Commission
Election and Role of a Councillor
Elections for all Councils took place in November 2008. From that election onwards four-year terms commenced.
For more information on becoming a Councillor please visit these sites:Qualification to be a Councillor
A person may stand as a candidate for the position of Councillor if they are enrolled, or entitled to be enrolled, on the voters' roll for any ward of the municipality.
Once elected, a person must retain their entitlement to be enrolled on the voters' roll to be able to continue as a Councillor.
Role of a Councillor
The following is a summary of a Councillor's functions, as outlined in the Municipal Association of Victoria's publication, 'Citizen to Councillor' (second edition):- corporate planning and business planning
- service planning and specifying service outcomes
- financial strategy and budget
- policy development and monitoring
- community representation and advocacy
- locally
- municipal wide
- regionally
- inter-governmental - performance review and monitoring
- community consultation and communication
More information may be obtained from the Municipal Association of Victoria's website
www.mav.asn.au.
Time Commitment
Being a Councillor is not a full time job. Most Councillors have full-time employment and undertake their Councillor duties in their own time.
Councillors are required to attend Council meetings, which are conducted every four weeks and held out of hours. In addition Councillors may be involved with various committees of Council or serve on external committees as a Council representative. Most of these committees would also hold their meetings out of hours.
Allowances
The State Government, under the provisions of the Local Government Act 1989 sets the minimum and maximum levels of the allowances.
Each Council has the discretion to determine the level of the allowances paid within these limits and must make this determination within 7 months of a general election.
City of Monash Councillors are on annual allowance. The Mayor is paid annual allowance plus the use of a fully maintained Council vehicle.
The allowances are paid to a Councillor to assist them with meeting the costs they incur in conducting their duties as a Councillor.
In addition, the equivalent of the superannuation guarantee contribution (currently 9%) is required to be added to the allowances.
The Council also has a policy relating to out of pocket expenses Councillors may claim and which are incurred as a result of their conducting their duties as Councillors.
In addition, Councillors of the City of Monash may be provided with a mobile phone, a fax machine and an answering machine, to assist them to carry out their duties as Councillors.
The Mayor
The Mayor is elected by his/her colleagues each year. A Councillor can be elected as Mayor more than once during their term of office.
The Mayor chairs all Council meetings at which she/he is present.
The Mayor takes precedence at municipal functions and performs an important ceremonial and social role. The Mayor may be called upon to officially open events and speak at special functions.
Councillors' Code of Conduct
On 17 November 2009, Council adopted a new 'Code of Conduct for Councillors'. The Code provides a framework for ethical and professional behaviour of Councillors in the range of interactions between Councillors, Council staff and the public. It covers various areas of professional conduct and details the minimum standards of behaviour expected of Councillors.
Last updated: 20 April 2012
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