Does a Council Member still have to follow the Behavioural Standards for Council Members even if they’ve been granted a leave of absence to contest a state election?

Yes. A Council Member must still comply with their duties and the Behavioural Standards for Council Members. These standards include:

• not to improperly use information obtained as a Council Member to gain a direct, or indirect, advantage for themselves or someone else or to harm Council;
• not to improperly use their position to gain a direct, or indirect, advantage for themselves or someone else or to harm Council; and
• not to disclose information or a document that is classified as, or perceived to be, confidential.

Any breach of the Behavioural Standards for Council Members may also lead to prosecutions for offences under the Criminal Law Consolidation Act 1935.