Mayor & Councillors

Local Government - Councillor Code of Conduct

The Local Government Act 1993 (the Act), provides a local government code of conduct framework for Tasmanian councillors. This framework provides a consistent, effective and enforceable means to address councillor misconduct. The code of conduct is issued by the Minister for Local Government and applies to all Tasmanian councillors.

The code of conduct is enforced by an independent Panel which investigates and determines complaints involving alleged breaches of the Code and empowered to issue sanctions against councillors found in breach. Before proceeding to investigation, code of conduct complaints are subject to an initial assessment by a member of the Code of Conduct Panel who is an Australian Lawyer to determine whether they warrant further investigation.

Lodging a code of conduct complaint should be seen as a last resort where a complainant has sought to resolve an issue directly with the subject of the complaint or through the relevant council's dispute resolution process and is unsatisfied with the outcome. From 10 September 2025, all Tasmanian councils must implement a Dispute Resolution Policy which outlines the process for managing disputes at the council level. Any person can make complaint under a relevant council's internal Policy. Councils are required to make a copy of this Policy available on their website and for any of the member of public who requests it, and must contain information on how to make a complaint to the council under the same Policy.

Dorset are currently developing a Dispute Resolution Policy which will be adopted by Council and made publicly available as required by legislation.

Once a complainant has gone through the relevant council’s internal dispute resolution process and being dissatisfied with the outcome and having acted in good faith, the complainant may make a complaint under the Code of Conduct.

The complainant must demonstrate in their complaint form that they:

• have made reasonable efforts under the council’s internal dispute resolution process; or
• have made efforts to resolve the complaint; or
• can explain why the internal dispute resolution process is not an appropriate process for resolving the issue.

A complainant must complete a local government code of conduct complaint form and lodge it with the General Manager of the relevant council within six months of the alleged contravention. The complaint must be accompanied by a signed statutory declaration verifying the accuracy of the information contained in within the complaint, and the prescribed lodgement fee.

The lodgement fee for the 2024/25 financial year is $93.50.

Please find below the Local Government (Code of Conduct) Order 2024 which contains Schedule 1 (Code of Conduct), the template Local Government Complaint Form, requirements for completing a Statutory Declaration and an Information Sheet for Complainants.

Local Government (Code of Conduct) Order 2024 - Schedule 1, Code of Conduct

Local Government Councillor Code of Conduct Complaint Form (Word Document) - September 2024

Requirements for Completing a Statutory Declaration - August 2022

Local Government Code of Conduct - Information for Complainants Information Sheet - September 2024

More information on the Local Government Code of Conduct for Tasmanian councillors can be found on the Office of Local Government website here.

The Office of Local Government has also developed, with the Local Government Association of Tasmania, councils, and legal consultants, a set of Model Guidelines for elected members which provide a clear framework for councils to identify and address poor conduct. The Model Guidelines can be downloaded here.

Councillor Gifts and Donations Register

As of 1 August 2018, the Local Government Act 1993 requires Council to keep a register of gifts and donations received by councillors. The Office of Local Government has developed a Guideline for Gifts and Donations (August 2019) to assist local government with the application of the gifts and donations requirements in the Local Government (General) Regulations 2015.

Gifts and donations to be reported include any of the following with a value of $50 or more:

• an item;
• a service;
• a loan of money;
• a loan of property; or
• any other benefit

This includes a series of gifts or donations received by the same councillor from the same donor where the total value in a financial year is $50 or more. e.g. a $10 lunch bought for a councillor each week over a period of time.

Dorset Council's Councillor Register was last updated in March 2024 and is reviewed monthly (correct as at 1 May 2025).

The current Register can be viewed below:

Councillor Gifts and Donations Register