A win for the little guys
The Minister’s reply on candidate home addresses: the rule will go, but not before this election
Cr Aldo Antolli, Candidate for Mayor | Kingborough | Wednesday 9 September 2026
Right now, Tasmanian law requires every council candidate to publish their home address on their election material. Corflutes. Flyers. Anything that goes out.
Think about what that actually means. My home address, printed on a sign, on a fence, on a main road, for anyone driving past to write down. Same for every independent candidate standing across Tasmania. That is not a small thing when you have a family at home.
It has been a huge controversy across the state, and rightly so. An ill-thought-out change that put candidates and their families at risk, for no good reason. So on 17 August I wrote to the Minister for Local Government, the Honourable Kerry Vincent MLC, and protested it. That letter, and the case behind it, is here.
I now have his reply, dated 9 September 2026.
What the Minister said
The Government will remove the need for candidates to display their address on election signage, for both State and local government elections. In the Minister’s words, it is an important step in ensuring candidates can campaign safely while still ensuring the source of electoral communications can be verified
.
That is a win for the little guys. Ordinary people who put their hand up, without a party machine behind them.
The sting is in the timing. The change needs legislation, and with the election period already underway it cannot be done in time. The Minister puts it plainly: Given the imminent local government election period commencing on 5 September 2026, it is not possible to achieve this change in time for the forthcoming council elections. The existing provisions under section 311 of the Local Government Act 1993 will therefore continue to apply.
So my address stays on my signs, and so does every other candidate’s. Fixed for next time. Not for this one.
What happens next
The letter also explains how the fix will be carried into council elections once it is made. The new Local Government Electoral Bill 2026, tabled in Parliament recently, refers to the authorisation provisions of the State Electoral Act 2004. Any future change to that Act made to implement the Government’s commitment will automatically apply to local government elections as well.
I will keep pushing on it, because people should not have to trade their family’s privacy for the right to stand for their community. I asked for two things on 17 August: an interim arrangement for this election, and express provision in the legislation. The second is now promised. The first was refused on timing. I will be watching the Bill to make sure the promise survives contact with the drafting.
The letter
From the Hon Kerry Vincent MLC, Minister for Local Government, dated 9 September 2026, addressed to me at Kingborough Council. Reproduced in full.
