Victorian Consolidated Legislation

Local Government Act 1989 - SECT 59

Bribery, treating and undue influence

59. Bribery, treating and undue influence



(1) A person must not ask for, receive or obtain, or offer or agree to ask
for, or receive or obtain, any property or benefit of any kind for himself or
herself or any other person, on an understanding that-

   (a)  any vote of the first-mentioned person; or

   (b)  any candidature of the first-mentioned person; or

   (c)  any support of, or opposition to, a candidate, by the first-mentioned
        person; or

   (d)  the doing of any act or thing by the first-mentioned person the
        purpose of which is, or the effect of which is likely to be, to
        influence the preferences set out in the vote of a voter-

will in any manner be influenced or affected. Penalty: Imprisonment for 2
years.

(2) A person must not, in order to influence or affect-

   (a)  any vote of another person; or

   (b)  any candidature of another person; or

   (c)  any support of, or opposition to, a candidate, by another person; or

   (d)  the doing of any act or thing by another person the purpose of which
        is, or the effect of which is likely to be, to influence the
        preferences set out or the effect of which is likely to be, to
        influence the preferences set out in the vote of a voter-

give or confer, or promise or offer to give or confer, any property or benefit
of any kind to that other person or to a third person. Penalty: Imprisonment
for 2 years.

(3) This section does not apply in relation to a declaration of public policy
or a promise of public action.