Coronavirus: call to delay NSW Local Government elections in September
NSW local government elections will be delayed by 12 months — with possible further extensions until December 2021.
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NSW Local Government Elections will be delayed by 12 months — with councillors and mayors extending their time in the chair until September 2021 — under emergency legislation introduced by the NSW Government today.
This week, NewsLocal reported on a campaign to delay millions of voters from going to the polls in September for the NSW Local Government Elections had been launched, following fears mass voting could increase the spread of coronavirus.
All but two councils across the state were scheduled to go to the polls for local government elections on Saturday, September 12, with ballots for candidates expected to be drawn on August 13.
However, the spread of coronavirus has local government representatives and Shadow Local Government representative Greg Warren calling for the elections to be postponed to “ensure public health and safety for both the community and those contesting the elections”.
Mr Warren said NSW Labor would support a decision from the government to delay the vote by six months, or hold elections in March 2021.
“This is an essential and sensible solution,” Mr Warren said.
“It is not about taking away the democratic right of NSW residents to vote for their council representatives, this is simply about prioritising the health and safety of communities throughout our state.
“Aside from the obvious risks posed by mass gatherings, the risks posed by and to candidates while out and about could also compromise the health and safety of many in communities across NSW.”
On Monday March 23, a spokesman for Local Government Minister Shelley Hancock told NewsLocal no decision has been made on the postponement of elections, however by Tuesday special legislation was being introduced to delay elections.
By Wednesday evening, Ms Hancock had confirmed elections would be postponed 12 months.
“Local government elections are a vital part of the democratic process, ensuring local councils are accountable to their local communities,” she said.
“Therefore, the decision to postpone them has not been taken lightly but is necessary to ensure the health and safety of voters, NSW Electoral Commission staff and election candidates.”
The postponement of the next elections will not change the future schedule of council elections, and the subsequent elections will still proceed in September 2024.
Local Government president, Linda Scott said: “there has never been a more important time for visionary local leadership”.
“Mayors and councillors are working to ensure good governance, an essential part of society, continues during the COVID-19 crisis,” Cr Scott told Newslocal.
“In light of the Minister’s decision to delay local elections because of the COVID-19 crisis, I know all elected councillors will continue to work across political boundaries to pull together for the public good, as I am doing at the City of Sydney.”
Cr Scott said she was confident mayors and councillors will understand the need to provide stability and continuity of governance, when asked to serve for another year.
“A small number of elected leaders may need to stand down,” she said.
“Local Government NSW will work with councils to support them during any necessary periods of transitions.”
This isn’t the first time local government elections have been delayed, with the government deferring elections in 2016 for the forced amalgamation process.