The potential for major political parties to manipulate Western Australian Local Government elections has been dealt a blow following legislation to return to the first past the post voting system being passed by the Western Australian Parliament in August.
Having lapsed previously, the legislation had only two days of sitting time to be passed before it impacted on electoral requirements and would fail to be in place for the October council elections.
Western Australian Local Government Association (WALGA) President Councillor Bill Mitchell applauded the State’s Minister for Local Government, John Castrilli, for pushing through the change from the proportional preferential voting system (PPV).
“There was very little time and significant resistance from the various Government departments to have this change made in time for the October elections, but the Minister has pushed through all of that,” Councillor Mitchell said.
“Given that the legislation had lapsed previously and that the timeframe was down to just two days, the Association was preparing the sector to accept that the change would not be made in time.
“Returning to the first past the post system is an important issue for Local Government in Western Australia and is a significant and welcome achievement by the Minister.”
First past the post is considered to be more transparent and less able to be manipulated by big political parties than the more complex PPV.
“Under the first past the post system candidates need only to win the support of their local community, whereas under the PPV system there is a greater focus on running mates and back room deals that mostly suit the organised, larger political parties,” Councillor Mitchell said.
“The move back to first past the post returns control of council elections to the community and lessens the influence and potential manipulation by the major political parties.”
Introduced by the previous Western Australian Government, the comparatively complex PPV system was used for the 2007 council elections.
At the time, WALGA ran a television and print campaign opposing the introduction of PPV, with about 100 councils passing motions objecting to the new system.
Councillor Mitchell said he hoped the common sense being demonstrated in the return to first past the post would extend to changes to the WA Electoral Commission monopoly on postal voting.
He hopes the system will be opened to competition, including allowing Local Governments to manage the process.
