Local Government minister waves off claims she will ignore feedback on reforms and more forward

WA Local Government Minister Hannah Beazley has waved off claims that she is pushing for mandatory elections regardless of council feedback. This comes after the WA Local Government Association asked cities and shires across the State whether they would be interested in mandatory voting and four-year full spills. Bunbury mayor and Augusta Margaret River shire president Julia Jean-Rice both said they felt the minister would move forward with the reforms regardless of what the feedback looked like. However, Ms Beazley said there wasn’t a clear opinion from the State. “The feedback that I’ve seen is really about the commitment to viability, sustainability and cost management,” she said. “Overall, there has been no consensus, so you have to take the most logical pathway forward.” Across the 13 South West local government areas, only three voted unreservedly in favour of the proposed reforms. Bunbury councillor Karen Turner suggested mandatory voting meant only well financially resourced candidates would be able to gain office, as they’d be able to afford to advertise themselves. The Local Government Minister said this would not be the case. “It doesn’t cost any money to knock on doors,” she said. “I think at the local government level, if you are an active part of your community, and you’re well known in the community, you can do a lot of on-the-ground campaigning that doesn’t cost much money.” Now that the WALGA response has been formed, though not yet published, the next steps to move forward with the reforms are up to the Local Government Minister.