Local Government Electoral Bill Discussion Paper

The Government is inviting public comment on forward-looking reforms to how we conduct local government elections in Tasmania. This new framework will be implemented through a new standalone local government electoral bill and supporting regulations, which will be put in place ahead of the next council elections due in October 2026.

The discussion paper is organised around five key outcomes:

1. a more flexible and accessible format for local government elections
2. a better voting franchise for electors and changes to eligibility to run for office
3. better quality of public information at elections
4. strengthened donations disclosure and electoral advertising requirements
5. other changes to support the integrity of elections.

The Government will consider consultation feedback in developing draft legislation, which it will release for further consultation and comment in winter 2025. The Government is targeting the spring 2025 session to introduce a Bill into the Parliament.

View the discussion paper [Word] [PDF]

View the at-a-glance summary [Word] [PDF]

What is proposed?

The paper outlines scenarios for how we may conduct local government elections in the future. This responds to challenges, namely decreasing postal services standards and increasing costs, which will continue to challenge the conduct of elections by postal ballot. We know some change to the current model is inevitable. The goal is to ensure our legislation provides flexibility to adapt the format of elections having regard to evolving technologies and community needs, among other things.

The paper presents two scenarios:

• The first scenario is an upfront change to an attendance voting mode, either with a single polling day or a polling period, which would represent a substantial departure for local government elections in Tasmania.
• The second scenario relies upon continued distribution by mail of ballot papers, with electors encouraged and enabled to complete and return ballots by hand to physical issuing places, creating a ‘hybrid’ electoral system.

In either instance, voters with barriers to participation (including electors with a print disability, who live in remote locations or are interstate or overseas) would be better served by legislative amendments to enable telephone voting, along with an option to continue to access conventional postal voting where that is practicable.

While proposed reforms in the discussion paper seek to support and deliver on initiatives agreed through the earlier Local Government Legislation Review, there are two main exceptions to this where we think there is merit in testing recent community and sector views about alternative approaches. These are:

• consideration for the continued eligibility to vote by non-citizens; and
• the manner of electing deputy mayors, proposing that the deputy mayor is instead elected ‘around the table’ in the manner of deputy mayor vacancies during the term, and also that councils may elect between a deputy mayor appointed for a fixed period, or an acting mayor appointed from time-to-time.

The paper then presents technical reforms structured around the outcomes above.

How can I have my say?

Feedback is welcome until 4 April 2025. Submissions can be provided by email to lg.consultation@dpac.tas.gov.au (preferred) or by post to:

Office of Local Government

GPO Box 123

HOBART TAS 7001

Unless you indicate clearly your submission is to be treated as confidential, all submissions will be treated as public information and published on the Department of Premier and Cabinet’s website. In accordance with the Tasmanian Government’s Public Submission Policy, if you would like your submission to be confidential, you must specify in writing, at the time of providing your submission, the parts of your submission you wish to remain confidential and provide the reasons for this.

Submissions will be published after consideration by Government.