Advocacy
Tackling the Issue of Incivility (Advocacy)
Across the globe, hostility toward elected representatives and distrust in public institutions is rising. Nowhere is this truer than at a local level – the most accessible tier of government.
At a recent Global Executive Live Panel hosted by the Victorian Local Governance Association (VLGA), in partnership with the UK-based Local Government Information Unit (LGIU), one message was clear – incivility is rising, it’s being normalised, and it is no longer the exception.
Panellists from Canada, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Australia shared alarmingly similar stories about elected representatives and public servants being subjected to threats and ongoing harassment.
In Australia, councillors and staff are increasingly tackling issues stemming from rising levels of negative, abusive and sometimes threatening rhetoric.
This current working environment for elected representatives poses a significant threat to democracy.
Any behaviour that is threatening, abusive or makes peoples feel unsafe or intimidated, is not only unacceptable, but it also compromises the foundations of local democracy.
Everyone, whether it be an elected representative or community member, has the right to actively participate in respectful ways in key discussions, decision making and any other fundamental aspects of this country’s democratic system without fear and without threats to their personal safety or targeted personal attacks.
Research, Insights and Sector Reform
Research undertaken by the VLGA, in collaboration with the Australian Research Council (ARC), together with the VLGA’s 2024 and 2025 Census findings, highlights the need for more robust and effective remedies when discourse breaks down.
The VLGA Victorian Councillor Census, conducted for the first time in June 2024, showed more than 80 per cent of respondents had experienced threatening or intimidating behaviour in their role as a councillor.
According to the survey findings, 41 per cent of women and 26 per cent of men regularly experienced threatening or intimidating behaviour from another councillor
Bullying and harassment were also identified as key factors for councillors not standing for re-election. (link to Census)
The VLGA is calling on the Victorian Government to work with them to implement programs and systematic change to combat the incivilities experienced in the sector, particularly by women councillors.
We have invested heavily in enhancing support networks for councillors – both professionally and personally but it is an issue we can’t tackle alone.
We are committed to working with the Victorian State Government and councils to improve culture in local government, ensuring councillors are supported and equipped with everything they need to deliver the best outcomes for the communities they represent.
In addition, we want the working landscape for councillors to be one underpinned by good governance, effective leadership and respectful relationships. This is as much about culture as it is about policy.
The VLGA is currently seeking funding support from the Victorian Government to expand its councillor advice and support hotline and introduce a dedicated Employee Assistance-like program for councillors.
Many councillors at VLGA member councils have expressed genuine concerns about the lack of supports available to them, particularly from a health and wellbeing perspective.
In response to this the VLGA will be running regular events around incivility and practical tools to address and tackle this issue.