Question & Answer – Council Elections – Requirement to Disclose Residential Address

August 13, 2026

Ms WEBB question to MINISTER for LOCAL GOVERNMENT, Mr VINCENT

Thursday 13 August 2026

Minister, you’d be aware of recent privacy and safety concerns raised by prospective candidates for the upcoming local council elections regarding the legal requirement to publicly display or disclose a residential address as part of advertising authorisations on electoral material. I’m being contacted by community members wishing to run as independent candidates who feel even further disadvantaged by these concerns as they do not have access to a party office street address that other candidates might have available to them as an alternative option. In light of those concerns and the need to balance our democratic responsibility of ensuring electors are confident in the validity of those seeking to represent them with the need, sadly, to protect the physical and online safety of those seeking election, my questions for you are these:

First, what plans, if any, does the government have to consult with stakeholders to identify practical solutions that can be brought into effect before the close of council nominations at 12 noon, Monday, 21 September?

Second, how will you seek to ensure any alternative options are communicated and promoted to ensure prospective candidates are aware of them, including covering any promotional costs incurred by any efforts to raise awareness of the alternative options?

And last, is it not a fact that a long-term solution is required to this and in light of the fact that the current Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters terms of reference excludes examination of local government elections, are you open to future discussions regarding the possible expansion of that committee’s brief?

ANSWER

I thank the member for her questions. It’s extremely relevant at the moment and I have listened to comments and have been in communication with Mr Phillip Rigg regarding this matter. It does go back; I acknowledge the existence of this issue, it has been raised several times over the years, but not to the level it has in recent times, which is probably a reflection on some the growth of social media issues now flowing over into things like this.

The intentions of the clause are still very valid in having a point of contact, so that’s not the issue. We are talking with the Attorney-General about what may need to happen with changes so that it is in line with state and federal legislation as well. We don’t want to jump at a very quick solution here that’s going to create other issues and we talk about that in this House a fair bit. We are talking with other levels of government as well as the offices of local government and LGAT regarding how this can be communicated through to candidates and we’re looking at various options there.

We want to look at how the legislation can be adjusted so that it fits. I don’t, therefore, have the perfect answer for the last part of your question about providing all of that, but we would certainly look in my office, as already discussed, the point of bringing things together so that things do match up. This really shouldn’t be just to fix local government. We should be looking at what’s needed in the state and how that flows on to local governments, so there’s a bit of synch with it all. That will be the proper path over time. How we fix this immediately is what’s being discussed in the days we’re in now. I don’t have all information to answer all your questions, but I’m happy to come back on Tuesday next week with a bit more information on how that will be communicated. But, we have been talking to the various bodies involved just to make sure we get it right and something can be done.

Ms Webb – Through you Mr President, minister, do you anticipate that you’ll be able to offer something that’s a good viable option to candidates for this upcoming election?

Mr VINCENT – We certainly hope to, and I think you raised a point on your ABC interview regarding the fact that some people have used a parliament house or a different business address, or another address. Those are aspects and legalities we’re looking at the moment. I would like to find something that people feel safe and comfortable in being able to address. It might not be important to a lot of us, but it is vital for those who do feel vulnerable or unsafe in those situations. In my earlier days in council I know I had things dropped in my letterbox that actually coincided with my posters being up, making all sorts of accusations. It died off pretty quickly, but I have experienced that firsthand myself so, I fully appreciate the position this does put people in. I’m surprised it hasn’t been dealt with in the past, but it’s one of those things that probably never came to the top, but it’s at the top now and we are looking at it. I’m happy to come back next week with a little bit more definition for you.

Ms Webb – Are you open to a joint standing committee on electoral matters consideration of local government discussion?

Mr VINCENT – Yes.

Ms Webb – Thank you, minister.