Council candidates to face court

 Candidates in the Greater Dandenong and Casey local government elections will answer charges over their campaign donation documents.
The Local Government Inspectorate started legal action against 15 candidates in the 2016 Victorian council elections who failed to submit a campaign donation return.
Among them were City of Greater Dandenong candidate Ha (Dang) Quach, who ran in Lightwood Ward, and City of Casey hopeful Faisal Najibi, who ran for the Springfield Ward.
They’ll face Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on Thursday 1 March.
Candidates are required to submit campaign donation returns when they receive any gifts or donations over $500, regardless of whether or not they are elected.
Failing to do so can carry heavy court imposed fines of more than $9000.
After the elections, 290 candidates were identified as failing to submit a campaign donation return by the 1 December 2016 deadline.
Working with candidates and councils, the Inspectorate conducted several rounds of follow-up action, providing candidates an opportunity to comply voluntarily within reasonable timeframes.
A large number of candidates were able to provide a reasonable explanation for failing to meet the legal requirements.
The 159 candidates who lodged their return after the required date were issued with a formal warning.
Fifteen candidates who failed to lodge any return are now facing prosecution in the Magistrates’ Court.
“A key factor in the integrity of local government is ensuring the transparency on who has financially supported candidates and councillors,” chief municipal inspector David Wolf said.
“While we don’t take prosecution action lightly, it is important that we pursue these matters and allow the courts to determine the seriousness of the offence.”
He said proposed changes to the Local Government Act would give the Inspectorate greater oversight of campaign donations, allowing more transparency for the community at the time of elections and swifter enforcement action for those who break the law.
During the 2012 election period, 164 candidates failed to submit returns by the deadline.
Prosecutions of 19 candidates following Inspectorate investigations resulted in convictions, fines, costs, good behaviour bonds and community work orders.