Mayoral candidates Tony Judge and Rodger Pryce talk poll postponement

Second postponement met with surprise, frustration and disappointment by some.

While some mayoral hopefuls have expressed surprise, frustration and disappointment at yet another postponed poll, the general feeling is one of understanding.

With Sydney in the throes of an escalating Covid-19 crisis, on Saturday Local Government Minister Shelley Hancock postponed the local government elections again, this time until December 4.

The decision means the current crop of Coffs Harbour City Councillors, due to go into caretaker mode at the beginning of August, will now have another three months at the helm.

The class of 2016 have already been in office an extra year after the pandemic forced the postponement of elections in 2020.

Rodger Pryce. Photo by Brad Greenshields.

Mayoral candidates Rodger Price of the Together We’ll Fix It team and Tony Judge of Labor both raised questions about the second postponement.

While largely circumspect about the delay’s implications, Mr Price did express surprise at the decision and wondered whether the government might have found an alternative solution.

“I am actually surprised, I thought they might have looked at a totally postal vote election,” Mr Pryce said.

“If some people vote via postal vote I don’t see why everybody can’t do that, however, it is what it is.”

Mr Judge went further, suggesting the government was unprepared.

Tony Judge understood the elections should be postponed but questioned why the state government wasn’t better prepared.

“Why isn't the NSW Government prepared for an election during a period of Covid infection?” he said.

“They have had a year since the last postponement to work on remote voting solutions, but they are still not prepared.”

While the NSW government planned to introduce their electronic voting system iVote and made changes to pre-poll arrangements to reduce congestion on polling day, the September date proved too tough an ask.

“We have taken this step to postpone the election to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our communities, voters, polling staff and candidates,” Mrs Hancock said.

Mr Judge said it was the right call.

“It’s frustrating and disappointing for people who have put a lot of time into preparing for a September election, but it’s the right decision,” he said.

“Looking after people’s health and their lives is always the number one priority.”