A NEW investigation into local government elections has recommended significant changes, but questions remain if they go far enough.
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The Local Government Electoral Review Panel on Monday handed down 55 recommendations aimed at improving local government elections.
They include forcing potential councillors to declare their political allegiances to voters and a new formula for determining the number of
councillors in each municipality. It also suggests creating a new limit for donations from organisations and individuals.
These are the type of reforms that will make local government elections more transparent, but there will be many critics of the current system saying they do not go far enough.
For instance, it is one thing to declare a political allegiance; it is another to align directly under a party banner.
Clearly in major regional centres in recent years, the major political parties have organised and funded candidates, albeit mostly indirectly.
It should be the right of voters to know when this is the case.
Similarly, in regard to donations, not only should there be limits on donations, but all monies contributed should be on the public record.
Local government is in many ways the most susceptible to influence in that most councils have less than 12 individuals elected to represent the constituency.
In such circumstances power can be wielded by even low levels of influence.
We’ve seen in the most recent Ballarat council elections significant outcry over the process.
It didn’t bode well for the council to have so much mudraking and speculation in the lead-up to, and following, the 2012 poll regarding political and financial interests.
The Municipal Association of Victoria president, Bill McArthur, welcomed the report, speaking on behalf of many frustrated with the events surrounding the 2012 poll: “We think there are a number of issues that need addressing around the electoral process, so we hope they have been covered adequately. The voting public just weren’t sure who they were voting for.”
Let’s hope the next government is proactive with local government election reform.
For the sake of greater confidence in our elected officials, the process must be cleaned up.