There has been speculation that October's council elections could be postponed with restrictive new rules for safely campaigning during coronavirus lockdowns making it tough for candidates.
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No announcement has been made by the state government, but Corangamite Shire councillor and Municipal Associaiton of Victoria deputy president (rural) Ruth Gstrein said she was waiting to see if there was announcement made on Friday.
With about eight weeks until the election, she said there needed to be an announcement soon.
New safe campaigning regulations were released on Wednesday sparking media speculation in The Age that the state government was reconsidering its position on allowing elections to proceed.
Cr Gstrein said the new regulations made it difficult for candidates, especially those in stage 4 lockdown in Melbourne.
"It's bad enough in stage three, but it's dire in stage four," she said.
"I know that some councils are keen to go to elections and some communities are keen for their councils to go to election.
"It's just a case of waiting and seeing."
An MAV survey earlier in the year found most councils wanted elections postponed, but the state government was reluctant to make that call.
Early in the pandemic the NSW state government rescheduled local government elections until September next year.
The MAV wants a 12-month deferral in Victoria too because a six-month deferral would put councils in the middle of budget discussions and planning.
"The situation has just got worse, especially with the stage four in Melbourne. It just makes it almost untenable," she said.
Cr Gstrein said in some parts of the state candidates can't get their printing done and photos taken.
"You're basically relying on the information you get in your voters pack where you get a 200 word candidate statement - apart from posting out leaflets which is fairly expensive and social media," she said.
Tough new regulations about what candidates can and can't do to get the message out there differ for Melbourne and regional Victorian candidates.
"The last thing anyone wants to do is put anyone at risk," Cr Gstrein said.
"You want to make sure everybody's safe, whether it's the candidate or voter."
Under revised guidelines, based on the advice of the chief health officer Brett Sutton, candidates in metropolitan Melbourne would effectively be banned from campaigning outside their homes, including doorknocking, leafleting, attending campaign events and advertising on billboards and posters, for as long as stage four restrictions remain.
Stage three restrictions, which apply to regional Victoria, prevents candidates convening or attending meetings in open spaces or private residences, doorknocking and attending community events.
However, they would be allowed to drop election material into people's letterboxes, hand out leaflets and advertise on posters and billboards.
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