New Disqualification Grounds and Misconduct Penalties for Local Council Members
Local Government Legislation Amendment (Code of Conduct and Other Matters) Bill 2026
Introduced by: The Hon Steven Edgington MLA (CLP)
Links to official parliament websites
Effects of this bill
If this bill passes, it means that:
Council members are disqualified if they are disqualified under section 132U(4) of the Local Government Act 2019.
Councils can dismiss principal or deputy principal members for misconduct; this excludes elected principal members.
Councils can fine members up to 50 penalty units (2026: $9,700) for misconduct.
Council members must pay these fines within 28 days.
Council members must follow the code of conduct when using social media.
The law creates a new role called a Governance controller.
Local government bodies must follow lawful directions from the Governance controller.
People appointed under section 129(2) must keep information confidential.
The Debate
What different members said when this bill was debated:
Steven Edgington CLP
“Madam Speaker, I present a Bill titled Local Government Legislation Amendment (Code of Conduct and Other Matters) Bill 2026, Serial 54, and table a copy of the explanatory statement. I move that the Bill be now read a first time.”