Blocking Executive Committee Nomination at AGM

Uncle … niece  … cousin – doesn’t matter – they are not eligible.

The Body Corporate and Community Management (Standard Module) Regulation 2008 rules HERE are quite clear on this.

10 Eligibility to be a voting member

(1) A person is eligible to be a voting member of the committee if the person is an individual nominated for membership of the committee by a member of the body corporate (the nominating entity) and is also—

(a) a member of the body corporate; or

(b) a person of a following category—

(i) if the nominating entity is an individual—

(A) a member of the individual’s family; or

(B) a person acting under the authority of a  power of attorney given by the individual;

 OK, so what is a family member?

(3) In this section, family, of a nominating entity who is an individual, means the following persons—

(a) the individual’s spouse;

(b) each of the children of the individual or the individual’s spouse who is 18 years or more, including a step child or an adopted child;

(c) each of the individual’s parents, including a step parent;

(d) a brother or sister of the individual.

 You also need to look at sections 16 and 18 of the above regulation.  They require the candidate and proposer to sign a document stating their eligibility. I would include in the notice sent out to owners before the AGM  that proof of family relationships (i.e. birth or marriage certificates or adoption papers) will be required for anyone proposing candidates who are family members. Failure to provide adequate proof will lead to the candidacy not being permitted.

@muz28 said:
Is there a requirement that the provide original or certified documentation?  

OK, the regulations simply state this: “Nominations must comply with section 18 and must be given to the secretary by the end of the body corporate’s financial year.”  Section 18 is quoted in my previous post about eligibility.

My interpretation would be that you (or your returning officer) have to be satisfied that the  candidate is eligible.  If questions have been raised, all you require is proof of their eligibility which would be either by sighting original or properly authenticated (notarised) copies of birth certificates or statutory declarations of the relationship.   Stat Decs are legal documents that, if they are used to deliberately misrepresent the facts, can lead to criminal charges and even jail for perjury.

If the proposer of the nomination can’t produce or refuses to produce these documents then you are entitled to refuse the nomination (in my book). I would, however, caution that you should make is as easy as humanly possible for them to provide the documents so that you can’t be accused of deliberate obstruction.

If no proper documentation can be supplied am I legally able to put aside the nomination and know it can’t be challenged at a later date?

You can’t know whether or not someone is going to challenge you in the future.  But that could just as easily apply to decisions made by the EC when it turns out one of its members should never have been nominated.

Talk to a lawyer, if you are truly concerned.  Or, if you are having a secret ballot, get the Returning Officer to decide.  But I think it is reasonable to ask for proof when the “evidence” you have been given is far from compelling.

@scotlandx said:
In circumstances like this, if someone tells you to mind your *** business, you are justified in erring on the side of caution.

Caution being …?  Checking the bona fides of the candidate?  Yeah, I thought so. Because basically, that IS very much your **** business