Break O’Day mayor Mick Tucker said each councillor should be funding their own campaign. 

The calls come after it was reported that some councils have not made their councillors aware of the rule after it was changed in August this year. 

Local government regulations specify an item, service, loan of money or property or any other benefit with a monetary value of $50 of more needs to be declared to the council’s general manager with in 14 days. 

Despite the rule being a new provision in the act, it is still expected to be obeyed, Bass Liberal MP Michael Ferguson said. 

“We understand there are a lot of new candidates perhaps entering for the very first time, but it’s a chance for them to be reminded to declare and disclose gifts and donations over $50. They should do so if they haven’t already,” he said. 

Mr Ferguson said no candidate should assume that investigations were not already happening. 

“Candidates, aldermen and councillors, if they have received donations over $50 then they should immediately disclose that,” he said. 

Bass Labor MP Michelle O’Byrne said despite $50 being a tough limit, rules still needed to be followed. 

“I would think this is a timely reminder for anyone in local government to ensure they are abiding to the rules as they apply to them, just as members of the state or federal parliament would be,” she said.  

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