Information for Candidates
Electoral Signage Guidelines
Signage on the Mornington Peninsula must comply with:
- The Mornington Peninsula Community Amenity Local Law 2022
- The Mornington Peninsula Planning Scheme
- The Environment Protection Act 1970
The following guidelines provide for the placement of all signage within the Mornington Peninsula Shire: Electoral-Signage-Guidelines.pdf(PDF, 322KB)
Candidate Information Request Register
All requests for information by Watson Ward By-election Candidates will be added to this Register to ensure equity of information for all candidates.
The Register will be updated regularly by the Council's Governance team.
Any enquiries regarding the Candidate Information Request Register can be directed to Council’s Governance team at election.information@mornpen.vic.gov.au
Information Request Register(PDF, 203KB)
Election Campaign Donation Returns
Local government election candidates are required by law to provide a record of whether they did or didn’t receive any donations or gifts, including in-kind support, for their election campaign.
The Local Government Inspectorate is the integrity agency for local government in Victoria and investigates alleged breaches of the Local Government Act 2020, including electoral offences. The Inspectorate monitors the submission of Campaign Donation Returns by candidates in council elections and may prosecute any candidate who fails to comply with the Act.
Under the Act, all candidates in Victorian council elections must submit a return within 40 days of election day.
Candidates for the 2023 Watson Ward By-election must complete and submit their forms to the Chief Executive Officer at ceo@mornpen.vic.gov.au or by post to
Mr John Baker, Chief Executive Officer
Mornington Peninsula Shire Council
Private Bag 1000
ROSEBUD 3939
If you were a candidate in 2023 Watson Ward By-election you must submit a return. The form, and FAQ guide, can be downloaded below.
If you were not elected and/or you received no donations, you still must submit a return.
On the form, you must include:
all monetary donations over the value of $500
all donations of in-kind support over the value of $500
all donations of services over the value of $500
all donations from the same person or body, if the combined value of the donations you received from that person or body is over $500
If you received no gifts, you must indicate this in the Details of Gifts’ section by writing ‘No disclosable gifts’ or words to that effect in the table provided. All fields must be filled out and the declaration signed by the candidate.
Failure to submit a Campaign Donation Return, or providing false or misleading information on a Campaign Donation Return, can result in prosecution and fines of more than $9900 (as of 1 July 2020).
In accordance with section 307(2) of the Local Government Act 2020 the Chief Executive Officer must ensure that a summary of each election campaign donation return is made available on the Council's Internet site until the close of the roll for the next general election in 2024.
View a summary of the 2023 Candidates Election Campaign Donation Returns(PDF, 210KB).
2023 Election Campaign Donation Return Form(PDF, 403KB)
Campaign donation return FAQ