Local Councils Must Publish a Register of Interests of Councilors; Local Councils Can\'t Do Things During Election Seasons Like Hire New Managers or Help Advertise Councilors
Local Government Amendment (Electoral Reforms) Bill 2026
House of Assembly
Legislative Council
Assent
Topics
conflict of interest election rules government local council political ethics public transparency
Introduced by: The Hon Guy Barnett MP (LIB)
Links to official parliament websites
Effects of this bill
If this bill passes, it means that:
Councillors must lodge a personal interest return within 28 days of their election certificate being issued.
Councillors must disclose income sources; trust or company interests; association positions; and debts for themselves and their spouses.
It is a criminal offence for a councillor to provide false or misleading information in a personal interest return.
The general manager must publish the register of interests on the council website.
The public cannot access personal interest returns or their contents through Right to Information requests.
Councils are banned from using resources for electoral advertising or to advantage specific candidates during election periods.
Councils cannot make prohibited decisions during election periods; this includes hiring or paying general managers and signing contracts over $100,000.