Fears ‘Labor’s factional warlords’ will stack councils

The Allan government’s restructure of councils will result in an increase in the number of wards but it’s raised concerns it will favour “the Greens or Labor machine”.

Local councils are set to become “more politicised, less diverse and less democratic” under a major restructure by the Allan government, with independents raising serious concerns about a major party takeover.

The Allan government has revamped 39 of the state’s councils ahead of the local government general elections in October.

The changes, which follow adjustments made in 2020 by former local government minister, ousted Labor MP Adem Somyurek, will see 30 councils shift to a single-member ward model.

It will mean the number of wards will be increased to give each councillor sole control over their own section of the community.

Mr Somyurek, who was booted from Labor following branch-stacking allegations – which he has always denied – had claimed the shift would give people “more confidence in local government”.

Merri-bek Councillor Oscar Yildiz says the single-member ward system will ‘damage democracy’. Picture: Alex Coppel

But Greens MPs had accused the Andrews government of trying to stack councils with “Labor’s factional warlords”.

Among those being restructured are Greens-controlled inner-city councils, Merri-bek City Council and Yarra City Council – both of which have sparked recent controversy over calls for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Independent Merri-bek councillor Oscar Yildiz said the single-member ward system would only lead to councils being “more politicised, less diverse and less democratic”.

“Single-member wards will damage democracy,” he said.

“They don’t encourage more diversity, if anything it restricts that.”

Mr Yildiz said the change would make it even more difficult for new independent councillors “trying to go against the Greens or Labor machine” to find a seat at the table.

Yarra Councillor Stephen Jolly says the change will make councils less democratic. Picture: Alex Coppel

Prominent Independent Yarra councillor Stephen Jolly agreed that wards represented by multiple councillors were “more democratic” and a better reflection of the inner city community.

“It’s ironic that this is supposed to help independents and it has the opposite effect in Yarra,” he said.

Mr Jolly, who has been re-elected four times, recalled when he scraped in as the third councillor for his ward in 2005.

“It would have been impossible if there was only one spot per ward,” he said.

Independent councillor Virginia Tachos at Labor-run Brimbank Council, which is currently being overseen by municipal monitors due to governance issues, also raised concerns about “an advantage for political parties”.

Brimbank councillor Virginia Tachos raised concerns about Independents being out-resourced by major party aligned candidates. Picture: Supplied

“Independent candidates that don’t have the budget will struggle – it will mean they’re out-resourced and outnumbered by the major parties,” she said.

But one Labor-aligned Councillor said the changes would mean that individuals were accountable to their constituents.

“Single member wards will expose Councillors who have spent the last 3 years riding on the coat tails of their colleagues,” he said.

“I believe these changes will bring more women and diverse Councillors after the next election.”

Independent Port Phillip Councillor Marcus Pearl said the redrawn ward boundaries were a “major shift” for the local governance landscape.

“This will notably alter representation dynamics, likely to negatively affect the Greens and other parties, particularly in the inner-city councils of Melbourne due to the new single-member ward system,” he said.

Local government Minister Melissa Horne said the changes were an important step. Picture: Ian Currie

“We’re at risk of losing the essence of local governance to political agendas, threatening our core mission to serve our communities.”

Under the changes, four further councils will shift to multi-member wards, and another five councils will adopt an unsubdivided structure, meaning no wards.

Local Government Minister Melissa Horne said the shift was “an important step” in reforming local governments to “meet the expectations of communities right across Victoria”.

The change follows a recommendation by the Electoral Representation Advisory Committee, which was formed in October 2022.

The committee provides advice to the government on the recommended council structures, including the total number of councillors in each municipality.