What you need to know
Councillors are voted in by residents every 4 years, to represent the community and make decisions regarding a large range of issues. Moonee Valley is made up of 9 wards - Airport, Buckley, Canning, Fairbairn, Milleara, Myrnong, Queens Park, Steele Creek and Woodlands, and each ward is represented by one councillor.
Role of Councillors
The Local Government Act 2020 Section 28 says that the role of every Councillor in representing their municipal community includes:
- participating in the decision-making of the Council
- representing the interests of the municipal community in that decision-making
- contributing to Council's strategic direction through the development and review of Council’s key strategic documents.
In performing the role of a Councillor, a Councillor must:
- consider the diversity of interests and needs of the municipal community
- support the role of the Council
- acknowledge and support the role of the Mayor
- act lawfully and in accordance with the oath or affirmation of office
- act in accordance with the Model Councillor Code of Conduct (PDF)
- comply with Council procedures required for good governance.
The role of a Councillor does not include the performance of any responsibilities or functions of the CEO.
Find your ward
Visit the My Council page and enter your address.
Mayoral Position
Councillors elect the Mayor and Deputy Mayor. They may choose to elect the Mayor for a one- or 2-year term, during the 4-year Council term. The current Mayor is Cr Ava Adams and the Deputy Mayor is Cr Fran Cosgriff; they were elected for a one-year term in November, 2024.
Here is a list of previous Mayors:
Cr Ava Adams
Cr Pierce Tyson
Cr Pierce Tyson
Cr Samantha Byrne
Cr Cam Nation
Cr Samantha Byrne
Cr Narelle Sharpe
Cr John Sipek
Cr Andrea Surace
Cr Andrea Surace
Cr Narelle Sharpe
Cr Jan Chantry
Cr Narelle Sharpe
Cr Jim Cusack
Cr John Sipek
Cr Shirley Cornish
Cr Paul Giuliano
Cr Paul Giuliano
Cr Ben Opie
Cr Jan Chantry
Cr Lydia Kauzlaric
Cr Mark Kennedy
Cr Eugene Hammer
Cr Don Cornish
Cr Trevor Sinclair
Cr Don Cornish
Cr Hedley Moffat
Cr Eugene Hammer
Councillor policies & registers
Councillors must observe the Model Councillor Code of Conduct (PDF) made under section 139 of the Local Government Act 2020 (the Act) to maintain the highest standards of conduct and behaviour.
The purpose of this Councillor gift policy (Word) is to provide guidance to councillors on the types of gifts, benefits and hospitality that can be accepted or those that must be declined.
The Councillor Gifts and Hospitality Register (PDF, 139KB) records all declarations of Council-related gifts, benefits and hospitality received and kept by a Councilllor since the beginning of the current Council term. You can also view the register from the previous term of Council (PDF Download, 175KB) which includes the declarations made during the period of 2000-2024.
Council expenses
In accordance with the Local Government Act 2020, Councillors are entitled to be reimbursed in relation to expenses incurred in their capacity as a Councillor.
Council has adopted the Council Expenses Policy which provides a broad overview of how Council provides assistance and support to the Mayor and Councillors in carrying out their role and official duties.
To ensure greater transparency, we publish the reimbursement of Council expenses on this page on a quarterly basis. The figures included in these reports may include expenses not incurred in the reporting period but processed by the administration in the reporting period.
- Quarterly Declaration of Council Expenses - 1 October 2024 to 31 December 2024 (PDF, 278KB)
- Quarterly Declaration of Council Expenses - 1 July 2024 to 30 September 2024 (PDF, 419KB)
- Quarterly Declaration of Council Expenses 1 April 2024 – 30 June 2024 (PDF, 326KB)
- Quarterly Declaration of Council Expenses 1 January 2024 – 31 March 2024(PDF,296 KB)
- Quarterly Declaration of Council Expenses 1 October 2023 – 31 December 2023(PDF,281 KB)
- Quarterly Declaration of Council Expenses 1 July 2023 – 30 September 2023(PDF,280 KB)
- Quarterly Declaration of Council Expenses 1 April 2023 – 30 June 2023(PDF,282 KB)
- Quarterly Declaration of Council Expenses 1 January 2023 - 31 March 2023(PDF,277 KB)
- Quarterly Declaration of Council Expenses 1 October 2022 - 31 December 2022(PDF,325KB)
- Quarterly Declaration of Council Expenses 1 July 2021 - 30 September 2022(PDF,284KB)
- Quarterly Declaration of Councillor Expenses 1 April 2022 – 30 June 2022(PDF,276KB)
- Quarterly Declaration of Councillor Expenses 1 January 2022 – 31 March 2022(PDF,282KB)
- Quarterly Declaration of Councillor Expenses 1 October 2021 – 31 December 2021(PDF,272KB)
- Quarterly Declaration of Councillor Expenses 1 July 2021 – 30 September 2021(PDF,278KB)
- Quarterly Declaration of Councillor Expenses 1 April 2021 – 30 June 2021(PDF,92KB)
- Quarterly Declaration of Councillor Expenses 1 January 2021 – 31 March 2021(PDF,92.8KB)
- Quarterly Declaration of Councillor Expenses 1 October 2020 – 31 December 2020(PDF,93.1KB)
- Quarterly Declaration of Councillor Expenses 1 July 2020 – 30 September 2020(PDF,137KB)
- Quarterly Declaration of Councillor Expenses 1 April to 30 June 2020(PDF,279KB)
- Quarterly Declaration of Councillor Expenses 1 January to 31 March 2020(PDF,278KB)
- Previously Unreported Training and Development Expenses 2016-20(PDF,155KB)
- Declaration of Councillor Expenses 1 October to 31 December 2019(PDF,19.3KB)
- Quarterly Declaration of Councillor Expenses 1 July to 30 September 2019(PDF,62.1KB)
- Quarterly Declaration of Councillor Expenses 1 April 2019 to 30 June 2019(PDF,125KB)
- Quarterly Declaration of Councillor Expenses 1 January 2019 to 31 March 2019(PDF,80.7KB)
- Quarterly Declaration of Councillor Expenses 1 October 2018 to 31 December 2018(PDF,215KB)
- Quarterly Declaration of Councillor Expenses 1 July 2018 to 30 September 2018(PDF Download,81KB)
- Quarterly Declaration of Councillor Expenses 1 April - 30 June 2018(PDF,91.4KB)
- Quarterly Declaration of Councillor Expenses 1 January - 31 March 2018(PDF Download,92KB)
- Quarterly Declaration of Councillor Expenses 1 October - 30 December 2017(PDF,56KB)
- Quarterly Declaration of Councillor Expenses 1 July - 30 September 2017(PDF,91.5KB)
- Quarterly Declaration of Councillor Expenses 1 April - 30 June 2017(PDF Download,180KB)
- Quarterly Declaration of Councillor Expenses 1 January - 31 March 2017(PDF Download,390KB)
Political Party Membership
As per Council resolution 2018/98, within one month of commencing each Council term, Councillors must disclose whether they are or have ever been a member of a political party within 7 days of becoming a member and provide details of that party/parties. This information will be made available on Council’s website within 14 days of being disclosed.
| Councillor | Current Membership | Commencement date | Previous Membership |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cr Ava Adams | - | ||
| Cr John Barnes | - | ||
| Cr Phil Burn | Australian Labor Party | Dec 2014 | |
| Cr Samantha Byrne | - | ||
| Cr Fran Cosgriff | Australian Labor Party | July 2021 | |
| Cr Rose Iser | Australian Labor Party | Dec 2023 | Australian Labor Party (Sep 2014 - May 2015) Australian Greens (Apr 2006 - May 2013) |
| Cr Hamish Jones | Liberal Party of Australia | Apr 2001 | |
| Cr John Sipek | - | Australian Labor Party (2005 - 2016) | |
| Cr Paula Theocharides | Australian Labor Party | Oct 2022 |
Councillor representatives to external bodies and other committees
| Committee | Councillor(s) |
|---|---|
| Audit and Risk Committee | Cr Hamish Jones, Cr John Sipek and Cr Fran Cosgriff |
| Essendon Fields Airport (Community Aviation Consultation Group – CACG) | Cr Hamish Jones |
| Farnham Street Neighbourhood Learning Centre Committee of Management | Cr Rose Iser and Cr Fran Cosgriff |
| Municipal Association of Victoria | Cr Rose Iser (representative) and Cr Samantha Byrne (substitute representative) |
| Metropolitan Transport Forum | Cr Phil Burn |
| Western Melbourne Tourism Board | Cr Paula Theocharides |
| Melbourne Royal® Consultative Group | Cr Phil Burn and Cr Rose Iser |
| CEO Employment and Remuneration Committee | Cr Rose Iser and Cr Paula Theocharides |