Council election management in question

Extract from RCoW Council Agenda - August 2005

During 2004 Victorian councils undertook an electoral representation review in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government Act and are now preparing for elections on 26 November 2005.

The Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) has provided councils with estimated costs in conducting the November elections. The Rural City of Wangaratta has been advised by the VEC that the estimated cost of conducting the November election on Council’s behalf is $66,000.00. This is an increase of $14,000.00 (25%) over that charged by the VEC in conducting the March 2003 council elections.

The Wyndham City Council has written to all Victorian councils expressing concern that the process and the methodology for electoral representation reviews was not well articulated and was conducted in a manner which reflected favouritism. Also of concern is the cost increases indicated by the VEC for conducting elections and that the VEC appears to have a monopoly as the only body equipped to conduct elections involving a proportional representation voting system.

Accordingly the Wyndham City Council has called upon councils who also share these concerns to support their call in asking the Municipal Association of Victoria and the Victorian Local Governance Association to make representation to the Victorian Government to review, reassess and implement appropriate changes to:

• the process and methodology for conducting electoral representation
  reviews;
  
• the establishment of a best value protocol for the competitive and realistic
  costing of municipal elections conducted by the Victorian Electoral
  Commission; and
  
• encouraging the State government to establish a competitive tendering
  regime, in relation to the conduct of municipal elections, to comply with
  the Code of Tendering.

Council has received a letter from Wyndham City Council seeking support.

---

Source: Agenda - RCoW Council Meeting Agenda (pdf)

---

The Watchdog urges readers to contact their councillors and show support for council to support Wyndham Council in this action.

---