Any eligible elector in the City of Bunbury (who is 18 years of age or older and who is not disqualified) can stand as a candidate in the City of Bunbury local government elections. Nominees of a body corporate cannot stand for election.
Electors who wish to nominate as a candidate in a local government election must complete a valid nomination application and present it to the Returning Officer before nominations close. Prior to nominating all candidates must complete the online candidate induction from the Department of Local Government, Sport & Cultural Industries website.
You can find more detailed information on the Western Australian Electoral Commision or the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries websites.
The next Ordinary election will be held on 18 October 2025.
Nomination requirements
Candidates are required to lodge with the Returning Officer:
- a completed nomination in the prescribed form, signed and witnessed. (This form is available from the Returning Officer, the Western Australian Electoral Commission or the City of Bunbury
- Declaration of completed candidate induction
- a single A4 page profile containing not more than 1000 characters of information about the candidate. Candidates may optionally provide a written statement of up to 2000 characters with their nomination. For detailed information about what must be contained in a candidate profile, please visit the Western Australian Electoral Commision.
- a nomination deposit of $100 (cash, bank cheque or postal order); and
- a recent passport-sized photograph, taken in the last 6 months (optional)
The Commission has developed an online system called Nomination Builder to assist candidates to complete their nomination form which includes the candidate profile. This is the preferred method of completing the nomination form and profile for elections conducted by the Commission. Candidates complete their nomination details and profile, print the completed form which has a reference number allocated and lodge it with the Returning Officer. The nomination builder can be accessed at elections.wa.gov.au
Where an agent lodges a nomination on a candidate’s behalf, it must be in the prescribed form with a written authorisation signed by the candidate.
The documents may be hand delivered, posted or faxed to the Returning Officer and must be received by the close of nominations.
Full details about eligibility and nomination procedures for prospective candidates can be obtained by contacting the Western Australian Electoral Commission on 13 63 06.
For further information in relation to nominationg to be a council member, please visit the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries.
Guidelines for election signage
Advertisement means any word, letter, model, sign, placard, board, notice, device or representation, whether illuminated or not, that is used wholly or partly for the purposes of advertising, announcing or directing, and includes:
- any hoarding or similar structure used, or adapted for use, for the display of advertisements; and
- any airborne device anchored to any land or building used for the display of advertising; and
- any vehicle or trailer or other similar object placed or located so as to serve the purpose of displaying advertising;
The advertisement is not to be erected until the 36th day before election day, and must be removed within 48 hours after election day.
In short, signage must be on private property only and cannot be on public property (roads, verges etc), and must comply with the time requirements above.
Code of Conduct for Candidates
The Local Government Act 1995 requires the City to adopt a code of conduct for council members (elected members), committee members and local government election candidates.
To view the Code of Conduct for Council Members, Committee Members and Candidates click here.
Electoral gifts
A gift means a disposition of property, or the conferral of any financial benefit, made by one person in favour of another. It can include a gift of money, a gift which is non-monetary but of value, a gift in kind or where there is inadequate financial consideration such as the receipt of a discount (where the difference or the discount is worth more than $300).
A gift could also include a financial or other contribution to travel, the provision of a service for no consideration or for inadequate consideration, and a firm promise or agreement to give a gift at some future time. A gift does not include a gift by will; a gift from a relative; a gift that does not relate to the candidate’s candidature; or the provision of volunteer labour.
Click here to see the Local Government Election Gift Registers
For further information regarding Electoral Gifts and Crowdfunding, please visit the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries.
Disclosure of electoral gifts
Candidates in local government elections must be aware of their legislative obligations in relation to the disclosure of gifts leading up to the local government elections (Part 5A of the Local Government (Elections) Regulations 1997). Both candidates and donors are required to disclose information about any electoral related gift (with a value of $300.00 or more, or which is one of two or more gifts with a total value of $300.00 or more) that is given or promised within the six month period prior to the Election Day. It is essential that candidates be aware of this legislative requirement and should advise donors of their reporting responsibilities.
Disclosure Period
Within three days of nomination, any candidate in a local government election will need to disclose any gifts received within the disclosure period. The disclosure period commences six months prior to the Election Day.
The disclosure period finishes three days after Election Day (for unsuccessful candidates) and on the start day for financial interest returns for successful candidates.
How a disclosure is made
The disclosure is to be made in the prescribed form and delivered to the City of Bunbury Chief Executive Officer within three days of receiving the gift, once your candidate nomination has been made to the Returning Officer.
Donors will also need to disclose any gifts made within the relevant period. Information to be supplied includes the name of the candidate, the name and address of the donor, the date the gift was promised or received, the value of the gift and a description of the gift.
Disclosure of gifts form below.
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