Maribyrnong City Council Representation Review

September 21, 2011 in Rants & Raves
Tags: local government, Maribyrnong, personal opinion, politics, representation, review, Victoria

The Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) is currently undertaking a representation review for Maribyrnong City Council.

The Commission has finalised its preliminary report noting that its preferred model is to maintain the status quo. The status quo currently sees voters in the municipality elect seven councillors from seven wards. This is a recipe for the maintenance of ALP domination over the council. Even if independents and the Greens can win more than 20% support across the council it’s unlikely they can win unless there are exceptionally popular candidates, which is already the case for the lone independent.

The good news is that the VEC are still considering two other options, both of which are much better. One alternative has three wards with seven councilors between them, while the other expands council to nine, elected from three wards.

Either of these models would provide much fairer representation, ensuring independent and Green views (and those of any other significant minorities) have a say on Council.

Given the rapid population growth in some parts of the council larger wards also avoid the risk of voter numbers per councilor becoming badly skewed. The current model of representation is also highly inadequate because it doesn’t reflect the need for representation to be more in line with the cultural and geographical diversity of Maribyrnong.

My preferred model of representation is to elect nine councillors from three wards, which better reflects the cultural diversity of Maribyrnong

There is still a chance to persuade the Victorian Electoral Commission to select one of the alternative models. However, you need to be quick, submissions close 5pm Wednesday 28th September. Get more information and lodge your submission here.

Read my last post about Victorian local government representation reviews here.