Local government caretaker periods are specified in legislation. In each State this period varies according to the State legislation. For instance, in Victoria, the period is 57 days — ‘the period from entitlement day, when voters’ rolls close until the election day’.

In Queensland the election period is defined in the Local Government Act 1993 (Qld) (s. 301(1) as ‘the period starting on the day when public notice of the holding of the election is given and ending on the close of the poll in the election’. For the Brisbane City Council this period is as defined in s. 3 of the Electoral Act 1992 (Qld) as the period beginning on the day after an election writ is issued and ending at 6 pm on the polling day for the election.