Bill Penrose has been eliminated by the Victorian Electoral Commission from the Nillumbik Council election for Bunjil Ward.
Also removed is Matt Perkins, who was standing for Griffin Ward in the Banyule Council election.
And in Darebin, Simone White has been removed from the poll for South Central Ward.
These candidates were retired prior to ballot papers being printed and will not appear on ballot papers.
The VEC said that these candidates were foundto be ineligible to nominate. Some 16 candidates across Victoria were removed, many of these are a result of routine checking by the Department of Government Services and Local Government Victoria crosschecking the VEC’s list of candidates with the register of local government candidate training.
This process identified that as of Monday, September 30, 12 candidates did not complete their training as declared in their nominations.
“It is a legislative requirement for candidates to complete this training in the two years before election day, in order to be able to nominate,” said a VEC representative.
“As part of the nomination process, candidates are required to declare they have completed the training and specify a completion date for the training. Over 99 per cent of candidates successfully completed the training.
“Before retiring each candidate, the Victorian Electoral Commission provided them with an opportunity to respond to the intention to retire them, as required by the Local Government (Electoral) Regulations 2020.
“As a result, some candidates were subsequently matched against the register of local government candidate training and were not retired. This brings the total number of retired candidates to 16, after four candidates were retired just after the close of nominations after being found ineligible to nominate. This brings the current total number of candidates running in the elections to 2215.”

Surprise removal
The ruling by the Victorian Electoral Commission that Bill Penrose was ineligible to stand for election in the Nunjil Ward at Nillumbik Shire Council came as a surprise to those in local government circles.
Mr Penrose made a point in his campaign statement that he had 10 years as a Councillor, and 35 years as a Green Wedge activist.
In his paperwork lodged with the VEC, Mr Penrose indicated that he had read the Nillumbik Shire Council Plan and that he had studied the relevant Code of Conduct.
Asked “What expertise or attributes do you have which would help you in undertaking the role of Councillor?”, Mr Penrose replied: “Ten years as a councillor and 35 years fighting for the Green Wedge with all that implies.
“Unfortunately, roadside and private land weeds are worsening, illegal vegetation removal persists, and developers and state pressures push for unwanted subdivisions. The council, with good councillors has the power protect this area.”
The VEC said: “ It is an offence to nominate for election when you are not entitled to nominate.”