Gun Owner Candidate Fears for Safety Due to Signage Rules
Topic: Political Candidates
Sat 8 Aug 2026 at 8:56am
Phillip Bigg got two death threats in the past year.
In short:
Some independent candidates think rules for signage and leaflets are not safe.
A firearms advocate thinks his home could be a target for gun thieves.
What's next?
A committee chair says candidates have a valid concern, but it may be hard to change the laws before the elections.
Phillip Bigg pushes for stronger punishments for gun thieves and thinks the law is a problem.
He fears his home will be a target if he has to put his address on election materials.
He thinks it's a bad idea to make candidates put their addresses on signs.
Now, people can be easily contacted through technology.
Phillip Bigg says the current rule is a problem.
The Local Government Act 1993 says election materials must have the name and address of the person who made them.
The address can be where the person lives or where they can be easily contacted, but not a post office box or email.
Candidates from big parties often use their party's office address, but this might not work for independent candidates.
Phillip Bigg, who is running for a spot on the Derwent Valley Council, thinks the law is outdated and puts candidates at risk.
He got two death threats and his home was targeted in a 'ram raid'.
Concern for domestic violence survivors
Emma Goyne is a council member who plans to run for re-election.
She thinks it's a problem to have to make her address public as a domestic violence survivor.
Emma Goyne is concerned about having to publicize her address.
She understands that many people in similar situations don't want to run because they don't want to share their address.
Emma Goyne doesn't see the logic in the law, especially with modern technology.
She thinks candidates should be able to list an email, phone number, or post office box.
She suggests allowing candidates to apply for an exemption in special cases.
'Tricky' to update law ahead of elections, MLC warns
Mick Tucker, president of the Local Government Association of Tasmania, thinks the concerns are valid.
He says it's unclear if the state government will support changing the law.
Mick Tucker reminds candidates that they don't have to use their home address.
The law might not be updated before the council elections in October.
Cr Tucker says candidates should note that the address doesn't have to be their home.
He thinks it's necessary for the Tasmanian Electoral Commission to have candidates' real addresses and contact details.
LGAT believes it's not necessary to put the address on public signs.
Independent MLC Meg Webb also thinks it could be hard to update the legislation in time.
Meg Webb thinks the request to change the rule is worth considering for safety reasons.
Ms Webb chairs the committee that reviews electoral law issues.
Phillip Bigg plans to push for the law to be updated when he meets with the local government minister.
He thinks the law can be fixed with a few simple changes.
If the minister tables an amendment bill, Mr. Bigg doesn't see why it wouldn't pass.
Some states have updated their laws
A government spokesperson says the rules reflect state and federal electoral laws.
Robert Hortle says the rule is about transparency, accountability, and traceability.
He notes that the same requirement applies to state and federal elections.
However, some states have updated their laws for local government.
In those states, candidates can use post office boxes as their contact address.
In New Zealand, candidates can use a phone number or website with a contact form.
Dr. Hortle thinks there are modern solutions that can uphold accountability and transparency.
Phillip Bigg might take the matter to court if the rule isn't changed before the elections.
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