On 27 August 2026 the Minister for Local Government introduced the Local Government (Elections) (Disclosure and Prescribed Elector) Amendment Regulations 2026 which have been published in the South Australian Government Gazette.
The Regulations require candidates running in local government elections who have been subject to an ‘adverse finding’ in connection with their role as a member of council to declare that by way of a statement in their profile.
Under the Regulations, a candidate is required to disclose any ‘adverse finding’ made in respect of the candidate after 17 November 2022. An ‘adverse finding’ is an order, recommendation or finding made in connection with the member’s role as a member of a council that has been made public. It includes recommendations made by the Ombudsman, as well as findings made by the Behavioural Standards Board, orders or decisions made by the South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal or findings made by the District or Supreme Courts.
In relation to adverse findings made by the Ombudsman, a recommendation will be taken to have been made public if the Ombudsman has published the recommendation or the report setting out the recommendation, or if the Ombudsman has recommended that the report setting out the recommendation be considered in public at a meeting of the council.
The Ombudsman has written to all current and former elected members who may have been the subject of an adverse finding by her Office since November 2022, to alert them to the new Regulations and their obligation to make a declaration if they decide to run in future local government elections.
Further information about the new Regulations can be found on the Local Government Association of SA website.
