How do I stand for election?
To be eligible to stand for election you must:
• be at least 18 years old and an Australian citizen
• live or own property in the council’s area
• be on the electoral roll for the council’s area
• not be disqualified from standing for office, for example, if you have committed certain offences.
A proposal nominating you as a candidate then needs
to be submitted by:
• at least two eligible people enrolled for the same ward or area you are being nominated for, or
• a registered officer of a registered political party.
You must complete some forms and officially lodge
them by noon on the day on which nominations close
and pay a deposit. The NSW Electoral Commission
can provide further information on how to nominate
correctly (contact details overleaf).
You should plan and organise your campaign as early
as possible. You may want to use posters, brochures,
door-knocking, the media and advertising. Strict
rules apply to information which candidates and
their supporters are allowed to publish or distribute
which you can also obtain from the NSW Electoral
Commission.
You must also lodge information about political
donations you may receive to help run your electoral
campaign with the NSW Election Funding Authority
(contact details overleaf).
Where can I get further
information?
You can find more detailed information in
Becoming a Councillor on the DLG and LGSA
websites (see below).
Your local council
See NSW Local Government Directory
on the DLG website (see below)
Division of Local Government
Department of Premier and Cabinet (DLG)
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.dlg.nsw.gov.au
Phone: (02) 4428 4100
Local Government Remuneration Tribunal
See Local Government Remuneration Tribunal
on the DLG website
Local Government Association of NSW and
Shires Association of NSW (LGSA)
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.lgsa.org.au
Phone: (02) 9242 4000
New South Wales Electoral Commission
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.election.nsw.gov.au
Phone: (02) 9290 5999
New South Wales Election Funding
Authority
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.efa.nsw.gov.au
Phone: (02) 1300 022 011
Australian Local Government Women’s
Association
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.algwa.net.au
BE A COUNCILLOR.
Harnessing the strength of women in
Local Government
Women make up just over half of the population but
only about a quarter of councillors. Women can connect
with many different groups in the community and bring
diverse views to council.
We encourage women to stand for election to have a
direct say in council decisions which influence the lives
of people, families and communities.
The Australian Local Government Women’s Association
supports women in local government to achieve their
full potential.
Why should I become a councillor?
What does a councillor do?
Being a councillor provides an exciting opportunity
to make a difference to your local community. If you
care about what happens in your community, want to
improve the local park, make the roads safer or support
local businesses, being a councillor is for you.
Councillors find out what local people want and
represent their views.
You might like to go to a council meeting, talk to a
current or past councillor or people in your community
about local issues to get a feel for what a councillor
does.
Becoming a local councillor is the way to make these
things happen and make your area a better place to
live.
Working with other councillors, they make decisions
on what the council will do to meet these needs and
how money should be spent in the best interests of
the community as a whole. They make sure the council
is performing well and spending taxpayers’ money
efficiently.
It’s important to talk to your family and friends about
whether you can realistically fit being a councillor
into your life, along with any other work and personal
priorities.
No other level of government is as close to the people
it represents.
They don’t get involved in the day-to-day running of
the council (this is the role of the General Manager).
Once elected, you will receive council-based training
and other support to help you understand and be
successful in the role. The NSW Government also runs
sessions to help newly elected councillors.
Being a councillor provides an opportunity to represent
your community’s views in vital decisions that affect
people’s daily lives.
It is also an opportunity to develop new skills and work
with a diverse range of people.
What do councils do?
Councils provide services that people and businesses
in the community rely on, 365 days a year.
They provide the infrastructure that people need
to travel to school and work. They protect the
environment and provide parks for children to play in.
They work with local people and businesses to find out
what is important to them and make it happen.
They make sure our villages, towns and cities grow and
prosper now and into the future.
Am I, or is someone I know, suited to
the role?
Being ethical, open and honest are key characteristics
of successful councillors. In addition you will need:
• to be keen to learn
• communication skills, including being able to talk to people in your community and take account of different views when making decisions
• time management and organisational skills
• problem solving skills
• teamwork skills.
You need to be able to commit time to reading council
business papers, attending meetings and representing
the council at some events. The time you need for this
will vary depending on the council and the business at
hand, but it may be up to 10-15 hours each week.
What support will I receive?
Councils meet some expenses and provide other tools
to help councillors carry out their role. Expenses can
include training, conferences, travel, telephone and
care for dependants such as children. Other tools can
include computers and other office equipment to use
on council business. Councils can also provide support
to help councillors who have a disability or other
special needs.
To recognise what councillors do for their community,
they receive an annual fee from the council paid
monthly. This is based on a fee range set each year
by the Local Government Remuneration Tribunal
(contact details overleaf). The fee is counted as income
for tax purposes.