The Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) has brought together a wide range of industry representatives to tackle growing disinformation and harassment of local government leaders.
The rising threats of disinformation, online harassment and intimidation targeting local government leaders and elected representatives continue to have very real consequences – particularly for women and underrepresented groups – and they threaten the strength of representative democracy itself.
On 10 September, MAV hosted an international, high-level discussion that brought together Australian and European mayors, CEOs, government officials, academics and other experts.
The roundtable examined the growing prevalence of trolling, doxxing, deepfakes and malicious misuse of governance processes that undermine local leadership and democratic participation. The discussion will help the MAV shape new initiatives to support councils in countering disinformation and harassment.
MAV Head of Democracy and Diplomacy, Ika Trijsburg, highlighted the urgent demand for a coordinated response.
“Local leaders are at the front line of our democracy. Increasing disinformation and harassment campaigns are designed to silence voices, discredit individuals and weaken trust in government,” Trijsburg said.
“Recent global research in the 2025 Edelman Trust Barometer shows that 40 per cent of respondents felt hostile activism was justified to drive change, with 27 per cent admitting to attacking people online and 25 per cent intentionally spreading disinformation.”
“These trends, combined with a polarised information environment and declining institutional trust, place growing pressure on local government to lead responses that protect leaders without curtailing legitimate democratic debate.”
MAV President, Jennifer Anderson, said that the outcomes of the roundtable would shape the association’s ongoing work.
“Our goal is to ensure local leaders are supported to do their job safely, and that councils can continue to engage communities in robust democratic processes without fear or manipulation,” Anderson said.
“This work is about safeguarding the future of active local democracy.”
