Lord Mayor Nick Reece wants eligibility of businesses to vote in City of Melbourne elections to be reviewed by Vic gov’t

A peak Melbourne committee has slammed a planned review of business voting rights in City of Melbourne elections, claiming that without proper representation businesses will leave the CBD.

Lord Mayor Nick Reece has requested the eligibility of businesses to vote in City of Melbourne elections be reviewed by the Victorian Government.

In the City of Melbourne, companies with an address within the council boundary are eligible for two votes compared with one vote for a resident.

Mr Reece said the make up of eligible voters for City of Melbourne elections – including businesses and property owners who did not live in the council area – was “globally, uniquely, distinctive”.

“We have a very distinctive voter franchise in the City of Melbourne,” he said.

“So it is appropriate that from time to time those voter enfranchisement arrangements are reviewed so that’s what we’re calling for here.”

Melbourne Lord Mayor Nick Reece. Picture: Jason Edwards

Committee for Melbourne Chief Executive Scott Veenker slammed the proposed review and said without proper representation businesses would leave the City of Melbourne for other parts of the city.

“Melbourne’s CBD exists because of businesses and if the City of Melbourne wants to continue positioning itself as the economic heart of the state, then it must reflect that priority in its electoral structure,” he said.

“Business confidence in the CBD is already under pressure, prompting many to question their long-term future in the city.

“Undermining business representation on council would add yet another reason to look elsewhere to more accessible and affordable precincts across Greater Melbourne.

Mr Veenker said around seventy per cent of the council’s rates came from businesses but there was not enough support from Town Hall in return.

“We have consistently said that as residential numbers grow disproportionately to business occupancy, Council must decide: does it want a resident CBD or a business CBD?” he said.

“If it wants the latter, then the business vote must be strengthened, not weakened. That includes consideration of increasing business entitlements to four votes, while maintaining residential representation at one.

Committee for Melbourne chief executive Scott Veenker. Picture: Supplied

“The City of Melbourne has always been globally unique in recognising the critical role of business in its civic leadership – they must continue to by protecting and strengthening the voice of business at the decision-making table.”

A CBD business owner, who did not want to be named, said he was disappointed in Mr Reece’s actions since winning the election last November.

“He promised a very different style of leadership from his predecessor even though he had been her deputy for almost four years,” the business owner said.

“What we’ve ended up with is the male version of Sally Capp in a cheaper suit.

“And now he wants to review our right to have a say in the city’s future.”

Mr Reece’s push for a review of the business vote was passed by the council at its Monday night meeting.

The review would also examine eligible electoral donations and the potential for “continuous electoral donation reporting” for council elections, if the Victorian Government goes ahead with it as per Mr Reece’s request.
The Herald Sun asked the Victorian Government if it would consider Mr Reece’s request for a review into the City of Melbourne voting system but it did not answer the question.