Program to cut back SA councillor numbers removes just three of 700

SA has about 700 councillors, and a program to reduce that number managed to cut just three. Guess who votes on whether to cut them?

A “BROKEN” system to cull some of the 700 councillors in SA has resulted in only three being cut since the last election.

The system requires councillors every eight years to vote on whether ratepayers would be better served if their numbers were cut, and analysis by The Advertiser shows 31 councils have had their Representation Review accepted since the election in 2018.

Only three councils successfully finalised a reduction of one councillor each; Coorong, Mid Murray and Light.

Alexandrina Council is still debating whether elected member numbers should be cut from 13 to 10 and Mitcham is considering a cut from 11 to 10.

Bitterly divided Adelaide City Council was the only council that could not come to a decision which satisfied the Electoral Commissioner, who this week announced he would retain the status quo of 12 elected officials and rejected a council plan for 10.

Councillor Alexander Hyde, who had supported a reduction of two Adelaide City Council positions, said the result showed the system was “broken”.

He will contest the next state election as the Liberal Party candidate for Waite.

“Even with nine councillors the proportion of elected representatives would still have been very high,’’ he said.

A state government alternative plan to cut councillor numbers to a maximum of 12 was rejected by Parliament in 2020.

Councillor Alexander Hyde during an Adelaide City Council meeting. Picture: Brenton Edwards

The biggest councillor cull of the past decade has been Onkaparinga, which cut from 21 to 13 elected members to contest the 2018 election.

Onkaparinga Council Watch spokeswoman Yvonne Wenham said the system was deeply flawed.

“Asking councils what they think of themselves when 75 per cent of the population don’t participate in electing them into office is farcical,’’ she said.

“The minority shouldn’t control and run local government.”

Ms Wenham said the reviews should be carried out by the state government seeking direct feedback from ratepayers.

“What we need is more meaningful engagement directly with residents and ratepayers by the state government especially on matters that directly affect the people, such as how they are represented in local government,’’ she said.

“Until this changes we can expect more of the same disillusion, apathy and non participation.”

Despite the fact that only three councils have so far cut councillor numbers, a total of 10 sets of council ratepayers called for a cull in their local deliberations.

Councillor Anne Moran during an Adelaide City Council meeting at Adelaide Town Hall in April. Picture: Brenton Edwards

LGA President Angela Evans said local communities were best placed to determine how they will be represented at the local level, and representation reviews provided a mechanism to achieve this.

“Every council and community is different, and all councils consider their local needs and priorities when determining the most effective structure for their representation,’’ she said.

“There are many examples of councils voting to reduce their numbers, as the process of debate and decision-making can be more efficient with a smaller group.”