Shannon Caton: Why you should vote in SA’s local government elections
NEXT WEEK, you will receive some very important mail. Many will cast it aside without a second thought. But inside that envelope is your ability to help shape the community in which you live, writes Shannon Caton.
NEXT week, residents and business owners across Adelaide will receive some very important mail.
Many will consider it junk, and cast it aside without a second thought. But inside that envelope is your ability to help shape the community in which you live, work and play.
The 2018 local government elections are in full swing.
Across Adelaide, hundreds of people are vying for a chance to represent you on your local council.
Voting is as simple as opening that envelope and making a decision. And it’s an important decision.
Gone are the days of local councils being responsible for the three Rs — rates, roads and rubbish — and little else.
Today, your ratepayer dollars go towards community centres that run programs for children, migrants, stay-at-home mums, the unemployed, the elderly and just about every other sector of the community.
Councils own the ovals where your children play sport, swimming centres, basketball courts, local parks and more. They host markets, concerts and festivals.
They advocate for improved transport services, shape our retail environments, work with and promote businesses and directly employ thousands of people.
But voter apathy at a local government level is hard to cut through. At the 2014 elections, only 32 per cent of eligible voters across SA bothered to return their ballot papers.
In Playford, that figure was only 21.7 per cent, the lowest return in SA. Some metropolitan councillors were elected on fewer than 200 votes.
Many residents and business owners cannot name their local mayor, and many more would struggle to name their local councillors.
Too few people take the time to find out who does — and who wants to — represent them and learn a little of their policies and beliefs. But we should all take that time.
The local government sector is the closest sphere of government to the community.
We are quick to complain when our councils make decisions we don’t like, but should we have the right to complain if we haven’t taken the time to vote?
We proved in the same-sex marriage debate that we are perfectly capable of completing, and returning, a postal ballot.
So, find out who’s running for your council. Take some time to get to know their policies. Open that envelope and cast your vote.
Ballot papers will be sent to resident and business owners between October 22-26. Voting closes on November 9.
Shannon Caton is an editor with Messenger Community News.
