‘Too big for their boots’: See what your local election candidates say about Gaza, antisemitism and Australia Day

Candidates in this year’s local government elections say councils should focus on roads, rates and rubbish rather than making a stand on issues such as the conflict in Gaza and the marking of Australia Day.

In a major survey of candidates on key issues, The Age heard from 677 of the 1478 running for council elections in Greater Melbourne this month.

Use the interactive to see what candidates in your area said.

If you are reading this article on our app and the interactive does not load, click here.

Forty-eight per cent of those seeking election said that councils should stick to the three Rs (roads, rates and rubbish) over making statements on topics like Australia Day, the conflict in Gaza and tackling antisemitism.

Thirty per cent of candidates said councils should make statements on those topics, while 22 per cent said they couldn’t say.

Moonee Valley City Council candidate Sean O’Neill says local issues are more important than international topics.Credit: Wayne Taylor

In recent years, councils have attracted controversy for weighing in on national and international issues, in particular the cancellation of citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day and the passing of motions calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Inner-city councils have the highest number of candidates concerned with social issues.

In Darebin, 72 per cent survey respondents said councillors should make statements topics such as Gaza, antisemitism and Australia Day. In Merri-bek and Yarra, that number was 50 per cent.

At the opposite end of the spectrum, candidates at suburban councils Knox, where no respondents were in favour of taking a stand on social issues, Mornington Peninsula (5.9 per cent) and Whitehorse (10 per cent) were more likely to favour the three Rs.

Sean O’Neill, 38, is a candidate at Moonee Valley City Council, where only 12.5 per cent of respondents said they backed making a stand on social issues, bucking the trend of other inner-Melbourne councils. He said that addressing national and international matters was the remit of state and federal government.

“We have three levels of government for a reason,” said the local business owner.

“I know it’s emotional for a lot of people, and I’m not picking any particular side. It’s purely a limitation, I suppose, of time and effort and function. I feel like local councils can spread themselves too thin if they try to cover off everything. ”

O’Neill is running on a platform aimed at young families, such as improvements to local parks, recreational facilities and programs. He said these issues should be front-of-mind for councils.

“I definitely agree that there are people directly affected by these overseas issues living in our area,” he said. “But for me, it’s really what is going to have the biggest impact on local residents’ lives in a practical, economic sense.”

In Bayside City Council, 22 out of the 32 candidates said that roads, rates and rubbish were more important than international and federal issues.

Candidate Kylie McIntosh, who shared that view, said she wanted the war in Gaza to end, but she didn’t think councils should comment on the matter.

Pro-Palestine supporters outside Wyndham council chambers in December 2023.Credit: Justin McManus

“I’m not convinced that it’s helpful for an organisation or local government to be putting out statements or comments on a particular position with regard to those conflicts,” she said.

“Because ... where does it end?”

However, McIntosh said councils could do more than focus on roads, rates and rubbish, giving the example of climate action.

“There are also social services that are really important,” she said. “There are health services. Bayside City Council currently still provides aged care services to members of our community.”

Survey respondents could elaborate on their answers.

Labor candidate for Darebin Kristine Olaris backed councils commenting on social issues. She said: “Council must get the basics right, but continue to listen to community’s needs and values.”

Ashleigh Vandenberg, a Labor candidate for Melton, agreed, saying: “Community cohesion is needed for stable, effective government. Local issues are broad and many.”

But independent Frankston candidate Liam Hughes thought local issues mattered more. “Councils are getting too big for their boots,” he responded.

Mark Chou, associate professor of public policy at the Australian National University, said the views of candidates who thought councils should stick to roads, rates and rubbish did not necessarily match up with voters.

His research found that the public was very supportive of councils taking stances on climate change, Australia Day and Indigenous reconciliation.

“A lot of this gets tied back to debates over what we’re paying for councils to do,” he said. “Is to represent us more broadly on whole range of issues that affect the local community, or is it just to look after our properties?”

In a separate question about which key three issues each candidate would focus on if elected, only 5 per cent nominated the Gaza conflict, 1 per cent antisemitism and 1 per cent Australia Day.

Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.