The councillors elected on just a handful of votes
Meet South Australia’s luckiest councillor — elected with just 11 votes. He’s among 100 elected members who won spots on South Australian councils with fewer than 100 votes.
West & Beaches
Don't miss out on the headlines from West & Beaches. Followed categories will be added to My News.
More than 100 elected members won spots on South Australian councils with fewer than 100 votes — or none at all — last month, prompting calls for major reforms.
South Australia’s luckiest councillor was Peter Hackett at Streaky Bay Council, who was elected on just 11 votes.
A total of 79 councillors across the state’s 68 councils registered fewer than 100 votes, with the top 10 — four of whom were from Kimba — all being elected on fewer than 35.
Another 44 people were elected to their positions with no contest at all because no one else had nominated — meaning 123 elected members won on fewer than 100 votes.
Franklin Harbour and Wudinna councils were elected entirely unopposed, while everyone at Ceduna bar the mayor was elected with no contest.
Allowances for councillors across the state are broken up into six tiers, ranging from $23,350 per year at the largest metropolitan councils to $6500 at a number of small rural councils.
Gawler Mayor Karen Redman, Murray Bridge Mayor Brenton Lewis and Mt Barker Mayor Ann Ferguson did not face challengers and each automatically takes home $69,080 per year.
Four councillors elected unopposed at Unley will earn $17,270 each a year.
Property Council of SA executive director Daniel Gannon said the
numbers proved the council election system was “broken and needs to be urgently fixed”.
His organisation released a report in 2016 that found $65 million could be saved annually by halving the number of councils across the state.
“It’s like the Brownlow Medal for South Australia’s most unpopular elected representatives — only it’s costing ratepayers important money, time and resources to put up with this derelict system,” Mr Gannon said.
“Those who defend the current state of local government must be living in cloud-cuckoo land if they think significant long-term changes aren’t urgently required.
“My parents have more grandchildren than the total number of votes garnered by a handful of elected representatives across South Australia — that’s an embarrassment for defenders of the system and it’s a mess that needs cleaning up.”
Mr Hackett, who was first elected in a 2016 by-election, claimed his low vote count was due to an “oversight” of him nominating in a ward in which he did not live.
He believed he could have attracted “a few more” votes in his home ward.
Mr Hackett — who will receive an allowance of $6500 per year — said he was not aware who had voted for him.
“I didn’t go out beating the political drum,” Mr Hackett said.
“As far as I’m concerned, I got in on my own merit and on the work I’ve done over the past two years.”
He disputed his election was a valid argument for council amalgamations.
Local Government Minister Stephan Knoll was not in favour of forced council amalgamations but suggested mergers could happen after the Local Government Boundaries Commission was established in January next year.
Local Government Association president Sam Telfer said he was open to discussions on how to engage more voters but council amalgamations would not solve any issues.
“It’s not the size or number of councils that is important, but rather that they are performing well, sustainable, responsive to the needs of their communities, and delivering value to ratepayers,” Mr Telfer said.
Six alleged crime gang members face court
Alleged members of an Adelaide criminal group have faced court charged with breaching SA’s tough anti-crime gang laws.
SA’s forgotten cold cases: Unsolved murders and disappearances
They are the chilling murders and mysterious missing people cases that have haunted families and authorities for decades. Read the files on 15 baffling cases.