ACT ELECTION RORT CLAIMS VINDICATED - ALP EXPECT TO SWEEP FLOOR AT 1995 COUNCIL ELECTIONS

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ACTIVE COMMUNITY TEAM MEDIA RELEASE - 27.6.1995

CRITICISM OF NEW COUNCIL SYSTEM VINDICATED

Councillor Kerrie Christian today stated that the Active Community Team had been vindicated in its criticism of the new voting system for Wollongong Council elections to be held in September.

"The ALP are now publically claiming that they can win 10 of the 12 seats on Council," said Cr Christian, "and I understand that they believe that they can even win all 12 seats, as well as the Lord Mayoral position."

The new voting system favours major parties because the quota of votes needed for a candidate to be elected has doubled from 25% to 50%. This will virtually eliminate minor parties and independents, who previously only needed 25% of the vote to get a councillor elected to one of the three councillor positions in a ward.

Cr Christian acknowledged that the Lord Mayor had acted in a relatively bipartisan manner during his term, and that consequently she had underestimated how badly the new voting system would be stacked against minor parties and independents.

"When I became fully aware of its ramifications in late 1994, I tried to explain it to residents but it is confusing for many people," commented Cr Christian, "and most people cannot believe it even when it is explained to them."

If the ALP were to win all positions on council, then there would seem little point in even holding public council meetings. All significant decisions would be made in secret in the ALP's caucus room.

"It would be even easier than it is now to hide unpopular decisions behind the veil of caucus solidarity," explained Cr Christian, "there would be no local accountability to residents."

"Residents have to ask themselves if they really want a council made up entirely of the ALP, or whether they want some sort of alternative and balance," stated Cr Christian.

Authorised : Cr K Christian ACTIVE COMMUNITY TEAM ph 671488

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