Sid Vashist elected as Mayor in 2024 Barkly Regional Council election

After the entire council was dismissed for widespread failures and unmanaged conflicts of interest, here’s who will be leading the Barkly Regional Council’s fresh start.

Final vote counts are in for the Barkly Regional Council election. Picture: Alex Treacy

Former Barkly councillor Sid Vashist will be elected Mayor of the embattled Barkly Regional Council, emerging as a clear frontrunner after vote counts were finalised.

On Friday the NT Electoral Commission confirmed Mr Vashist won 54 per cent of votes, putting him well ahead of runner up Barb Shaw who won 18.7 per cent of votes.

Five councillors were elected to Patta ward: Greg Marlow, Sharen Lake, Pennie Cowin, Dianne Stokes and Valda Napurrula Shannon.

Valerie Campbell secured Alpurrurulam ward with 31 votes, and Lennie Barton and Ben Neade were elected to Kuwarrangu ward.

In Alyawarr four councillors were appointed uncontested, as only four people put themselves forward for the role: Noel Hayes, Andrew Tsavaris, Darryl Rex Morton, and Zacieus Long.

Voter turnout was low, with less than a third of the 4503 eligible constituents casting a ballot.

Barkly Regional Council 2024 candidate Sid Vashist, a former councillor, will become mayor after winning more than half of the primary votes. Picture: Facebook

The election marks a fresh start for the local government, after the entire council was sacked in June following an investigation into bullying, harassment and inadequate oversight.

A scathing report looking into the councillors’ conduct over a 21-month period, from January 2022 to October 2023, found the elected members did not understand their roles, and failed to seek information before making critical decisions, while conflicts of interest were not properly managed.

Former Barkly Mayor Jeffrey McLaughlin was also mired in scandal after video emerged of him sitting on top of a 12-year-old Indigenous boy in August 2023.

Mr McLaughlin claimed the child had broken into his home, and withstood pressure to stand aside as mayor over the issue.

Another man in the video, who placed his foot on the child’s head, pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and received a three-month suspended prison sentence.

Barkly Regional Council serves 322,713 sqkm of outback Territory including Tennant Creek, Elliott, Ali Curung and Alpurrurulam.

The election was held on November 2, and the official declaration of winners will take place on Monday.

Originally published as Sid Vashist elected as Mayor in 2024 Barkly Regional Council election