Strengthening the panels came after several high profile conduct breaches by Bendigo councillors in the last six months, as well as poor councillor behaviour across the state.

Minister for Local Government Natalie Hutchins said there was significant will in the community to keep councillor behaviour in check.

“The experiences in Bendigo, and others across the state, have helped inform these reforms,” she said.

“Bendigo residents deserve to have a responsive and robust system in place.”

City of Greater Bendigo councillor Elise Chapman was forced to apologise for a graphic tweet she sent to a mosque supporter, but she instead appealed the decision.

Fellow Councillor Mark Weragoda also fronted a panel after he was caught drink driving, an offence he then denied.

Under the proposed new laws, the minister would have the power to suspend a councillor for six months while a panel hears the matter.

New councillors will also be required to agree to codes of conduct before they take office, and councils will have to establish procedures to deal with breaches.

Other proposed changes include giving the minister the power to make councils improve their governance and outlaw councillor discretionary funds.

Minister for Local Government Natalie Hutchins said there was a need for more robust conduct laws for councillors.

“Misconduct among Victoria’s 624 councillors is thankfully rare,” she said.

“But when it does happen, it is an unwelcome and unnecessary distraction that could be more easily dealt with by responsive and robust conduct law.”

Once parliament approves the proposal, the Bill will be added to the Local Government Act, last updated in 2008.

Earlier this month, Bendigo mayor Peter Cox said the panels should also have the power to fine councillors for serious acts of misconduct.

He said 40 per cent of councils in Victoria have experienced a councillor code of conduct panel.

The state government is also completing a review of Victoria’s system of local government.