ACTIVE COMMUNITY TEAM MEDIA RELEASE - 1999 ELECTION CAMPAIGN
AN ALL ALP COUNCIL LIKE BOTANY - A CITY OF SECRECY & SILENCE ?
Cr Kerrie Christian today stated that Wollongong Council faced the strong risk that it could follow in the footsteps of Botany Council in 1995, and return a council composed entirely of ALP councillors, with the city totally dictated by secret caucus decisionmaking - a city of silence and secrecy.
Wollongong and Botany are two of only a handful of councils in NSW that use the Optional Preferential system for voting, whereas the other 170 of 177 councils use the Proportional system.
"What it means is that for a person to get elected in Wollongong, they need 50% of the votes - whereas in most councils you only need between 10 and 25%," explained Cr Christian, "it clearly favours major parties rather than smaller groups & independents."
Cr Christian also explained that with the "above the line" voting system, the almost total domination of the ALP was much more likely, with up to 80% of voters expected to vote above the line. Voting "above the line" was quietly introduced into local government legislation by the Bob Carr Labor government shortly before the March State election.
"Voting above the line is effectively cloaked in secrecy as most voters don't know where the candidates' preferences have been allocated," explained Cr Christian, "they can find them on the walls in the polling booths - but most people aren't aware of this."
Cr Christian confirmed that there had been considerable discussion about preferences within the Active Community Team and that prior to final decisions, that talks had been held with reps from most groups and parties across the city.
"In some cases we reached agreement, and in some cases that did not occur," said Cr Christian, "for instance, in Ward 1 where Cr Dave Martin and I are standing, there is no deal with either Liberal or Labor so we obviously do have a big task ahead to make the 50% vote required to get elected - it's not something that you can be complacent about."
Cr Christian explained that voters can choose to vote below the line and in this way extend preferences beyond their first choices, and in this way they have a say in who finally gets elected, if their first choice is eliminated, with too few votes.
"At many elections, up to 30% of people find that their preferred candidates had been eliminated with too few votes," said Cr Christian, "and it may easily be at least this high in some wards in the Wollongong council elections on September 11 1999."
Cr Christian confirmed that she understood that both the Franks-Darling team and Flynn-Cachia team had not sought preference deals.
"We don't need a Botany Council situation with Wollongong Council comprised only of ALP councillors," stated Cr Christian, "it's not healthy for the city - we need a balance of representation from different perspectives to lead the city into the 21st Century - not a city of secrecy and silence - dominated by the secret ALP caucus."
Authorised Cr Kerrie Christian - ph 0408 115 099
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