Comment on success of postal voting in recent local govt election

4/5/97

The outstanding feature of this year's local government elections was the continued success of postal voting.

Bunbury became the first country local government to hold a postal ballot and it achieved a 60 per cent voter turn-out.

Metropolitan newcomers to postal ballots were Armadale with 48 per cent and Melville with 44 per cent.

These figures are far ahead of comparable metropolitan local governments such as Canning with 11 per cent, Belmont 20 per cent, Subiaco 25 per cent, and even Claremont with all its tensions and a keenly fought mayoral race with 37 per cent.

I will be reviewing the entire election process as it unfolded under the new Act, but even at this stage I believe I will be recommending as amendment to the requirement that a special majority of council is needed before postal ballots can be introduced.

Public support for postal ballots is so strong that a minority of councillors should not be allowed to deprive voters of this opportunity.

The two biggest local governments in Western Australia, Wanneroo and Stirling, once again had disappointing voter response figures of 6.5 per cent and nine per cent respectively.

These figures confirm previous indications that the two cities are too big to generate a true sense of community and local participation.

To all those who were defeated in elections, I offer my thanks for their willingness to participate in the local democratic process.

I ask all those who were successful to approach their responsibilities - whether new or renewed - in a spirit of service to the community rather than in any misplaced sense of power over the community.

Media contact: Hugh Ryan 366 0200