The NSW local elections are shaping up to be one of the most confusing, and drama filled, votes in recent history

DASTARDLY defections, awkward emails and claims of potty policies, this weekend’s elections have plenty of drama.

THIS Saturday, the residents of New South Wales will vote in one of the most confusing, and certainly one of the most bonkers, elections in recent history.

Confusing because whether you’re even allowed to vote could depend on what side of the street you live on.

And in the City of Sydney it’s turning increasingly bonkers with scandalous resignations, dastardly defections and awkward emails doing the rounds.

There’s also some eye opening policies from free sanitary pads to multi-million dollar milk crates.

But let’s go back to basics. With this being the NSW local government elections you might imagine every local council in the state would be up for grabs. This is not the case.

In fact, councils that cover around two million of NSW’s seven million plus residents will not be holding a vote.

If you live in the western Sydney suburb of Toongabbie, for instance, whether you vote will depend what street you live on, or even what side of the road. The same goes for Newtown and Baulkham Hills.

The reason for this dearth of democracy is the Government’s controversial council mergers that overnight saw a slew of new councils created and a bunch more waiting in the wings. If you live in any of these councils areas you won’t be voting until late 2017.

Opposition Leader Luke Foley condemned the decision and said it meant councils were being run by “unelected dictators”.

NRL legend Ian Roberts wants your vote. Picture: Richard Dobson

Pity the poor people of Coolamon Shire though. They were due to have an election on Saturday but only nine people nominated for the nine positions. That means that all get in by default, even if they can’t tell their a*se from their agenda.

But it’s in Sydney where some feel democracy has really fallen off a cliff. Uniquely, the LGA that covers the CBD and surrounding suburbs of Australia’s largest city, has had it’s own voting system imposed.

In 2014, the Government ram raided through a law that gave businesses in the City two votes to every one for residents. The argument being that businesses pay lots of rates so we should give them lots of votes.

Although, to those of a cynical inclination, it appeared to be one more none too subtle move to dislodge independent Lord mayor Clover Moore from the town hall throne she has sat on for the last 12 years.

None has worked and every attempt seems to have the opposite effect, cementing her outsider status.

There’s a few famous faces to distract the voters this time around. Footy legend Ian Roberts, the first ever rugby player to come out as gay, is throwing his hat in with Labor. Former head of the Australian Medical Association and frequent media commentator on health issues Kerry Phelps is on Ms Moore’s ticket.

Away from Sydney an infamous face is hoping for election success with the Liberal’s Jaymes Diaz is standing for Blacktown Council. You may remember the face because he’s the chap who stood in the 2013 Federal Election and when asked by a reporter what the Coalition’s six point plan was to limit asylum seekers, he got stumped after one.

Despite his bruising tilt at the Federal Election, where he couldn’t recall his own party policies, Jaymes Diaz is hoping to be elected to Blacktown Council.

Sydney Liberal candidate Christine Forster doesn’t have any famous names on her slate but she does have a very famous brother in the form of ex-PM Tony Abbott. She was happy to roll him out for a fundraiser a few weeks back but told news.com.au, that would be, “the sum total of his involvement.”

Although Abbott was seen giving out flyers at Manly Wharf during the Federal Election perhaps there’s a concern he won’t get as warm a welcome in the city proper.

Mind you, there’s been so much drama in the Liberal camp it’s all got a bit House of Cards even without Tony. Ms Forster’s campaign manager resigned amid allegations he used a corporate credit card for almost $14,000 of personal expenses, while her likely running mate, Edward Mandla, defected to the independent Sydney Matters team.

(Although all indications were the two Libs hadn’t exactly been besties for a while and were happy to have some time out from one another).

Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore has received brickbats for her love of major public artworks such as the proposed Cloud Arch, a 50m cloud-shaped arch proposed for George Street. Picture David Moir

Mr Mandla has been a constant thorn in the Lord Mayor Moore’s side, lambasting her for what he sees as a failed and expensive council policy to make the city more energy efficient.

But he has some interesting polices of his own and earlier this year implored council to provide free sanitary towels to its residents.

“City of Sydney is flush with cash and throws around money like there’s no tomorrow,” he said in July. “Providing free sanitary products is a low cost solution (to equality) that ought to inspire corporations around Australia to follow suit.”

It’s just a bit awkward his then party, the Liberals, failed to even axe the GST on said products let alone make them free.

Mr Mandla is now running alongside city business owner Angels Vithoulkas. While they are buddies now, there must have been some cringes in the party room this week when emails emerged from when they were rivals.

Mr Mandala called Ms Vithoulkas “hysterical” and dismissed her networking events as just an attempt to “find a husband”. Ouch.

It was all smiles between Sydney Lord Mayoral candidate Angela Vithoulkas and running mate Edward Mandla a few weeks back. Then some awkward emails emerged.

Graciously, turning the other cheek, Ms Vithoulkas said the barbs were, “sadly, part of the political game”.

Ms Moore’s kept out of the fray but her detractors have long characterised her as being oblivious to the fact Sydney is Australia’s engine of growth rather than her own fiefdom.

Her love of cycle ways and hatred of the West Connex mega motorway project proves to her detractors she cares more about the foibles soy-latte city folk than the needs of Sydney residents beyond her council’s borders.

They point to Ms Moore’s championing of multi-million dollar art projects, including a towering arch of skyscraper proportions (which some say is technically impossible to build) and a giant milk crate to nestle in a city park, as further proof her priorities are skewed. While Ms Forster has criticised the gradual deterioration of the gay hub of Oxford St as proof of council inertia.

And while many thank Ms Moore for bringing Melbourne style small bars to Sydney there was also that $80,000 pop up bar that served nothing but water.

She doesn’t seem bothered though. Haters gonna hate, but during her tenure the city’s population has grown 30 per cent and she likes to drop into the conversation the fact the city has a financial surplus of $100m, a figure that makes the Federal Government green with jealously.

But even if you disagree with public art, can’t abide cycle ways or cherish them both at least City of Sydneysiders are able to vote this weekend.

In NSW’s confounding, confusing elections, that’s a privilege many are being denied.

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