2012 New South Wales local elections explained

Country:New South Wales
Type:parliamentary
Ongoing:no
Election Date:8 September 2012
Previous Election:2008 New South Wales local elections
Previous Year:2008
Next Year:
2017
Leader1:N/A
Party1:Independents
Seats1:927
Popular Vote1:1,306,350
Percentage1:38.14%
Leader2:N/A
Party2:Liberal Party of Australia (New South Wales Division)
Seats2:172
Popular Vote2:748,349
Percentage2:21.85%
Leader3:N/A
Party3:Australian Labor Party (New South Wales Branch)
Seats3:152
Popular Vote3:656,552
Percentage3:19.17%
Leader4:No leader
Party4:The Greens NSW
Seats4:38
Popular Vote4:228,708
Percentage4:6.68%
Leader5:No leader
Party5:Unity Party (Australia)
Seats5:3
Popular Vote5:15,005
Percentage5:0.44%
Leader6:Fred Nile
Color6:7F0080
Last Election6:1
Seats Before6:0
Seats6:0
Popular Vote6:14,032
Percentage6:0.41%
Leader7:John Humphreys
Party7:Liberal Democratic Party (Australia)
Last Election7:0
Seats Before7:0
Seats7:2
Seat Change7: 2
Popular Vote7:10,492
Percentage7:0.31%
Leader8:Jim Saleam
Party8:Australia First Party
Last Election8:0
Seats Before8:0
Seats8:1
Seat Change8: 1
Popular Vote8:6,421
Percentage8:0.19%
Leader9:No leader
Party9:Communist
Color9:CC2026
Last Election9:0
Seats Before9:0
Seats9:1
Seat Change9: 1
Popular Vote9:2,352
Percentage9:0.07%

The 2012 New South Wales local elections were held on 8 September 2012 to elect the councils of 150 of the 152 local government areas (LGAs) of New South Wales. Several councils also held mayoral elections and/or referendums.

The elections were conducted by the New South Wales Electoral Commission, with the exception of 14 councils who chose to conduct their own elections or use the services of the private Australian Election Company.[1]

No elections were held in Shellharbour or Wollongong as electors had voted a year prior in 2011, following the sackings of both councils in 2008.[2] [3]

The Liberal Party chose not to contest the elections in Fairfield and Penrith, leading to Liberal councillors running as Independent Liberals.[4] [5]

More than 16 wards across the state were uncontested.[6]

Parties

The following registered parties contested this election. This does not include groups of independents:

In addition, a number of local government-registered parties also contested the elections.[7]

Party changes before elections

Council Ward Councillor Former party New party Date
Hornsby ShireMayorNick Berman Liberal Independent11 November 2010[8]
NewcastleWard 4Mike Jackson Labor Independent16 February 2011
NewcastleWard 4Mike Jackson Independent Liberal15 April 2011
AuburnFirst WardLe Lam Unity Independent2011
AshfieldSouthMorris Mansour Liberal Independent2011[9]
UrallaA WardIsabel Strutt  Christian Democrats Independent2012

Results

See main article: Results of the 2012 New South Wales local elections.

PartyVotes%SwingSeatsChange
 Independents1,306,35038.14927
 Liberal748,34921.85172
 Labor656,55219.17152
 Greens228,7086.6838
 Independent Liberal132,7563.8733
 Independent National33,8820.9915
 Your Warringah33,7570.985
 Clover Moore Independent Team30,3520.894 1
 Independent Lake Alliance26,2420.774
 Shire Watch Independents20,6540.601
 Independent Labor16,0610.4711
 Unity15,0050.443
 Christian Democrats14,0320.410
 Save Tuggerah Lakes11,4650.332
 Shoalhaven Independents11,1710.333
 Liberal Democrats10,4920.312 2
 Holroyd Independents8,5670.252
 Eurobodalla Ratepayers Action8,0590.234
 Lorraine Wearne7,9140.232
 Residents First Woollahra7,5020.225
 Totally Locally Committed7,3640.212
 Liverpool Community Independents Team7,3630.211
 Australia First6,4210.191 1
 Paramatta Independents5,6280.170
 Living Sydney5,5240.17+0.171 1
 Community First5,3860.161
 Residents Action For Auburn4,9600.142
 Building Australia4,4480.13+0.130
bgcolor=EE220D  No Parking Meters4,4460.130 1
 Bob Thompson4,1400.121
 Serving Mosman4,1280.122
 Woodville Independents4,1180.120
 Community Service Environment3,9770.121
 Democratic Labor3,7000.111
 Manly Independents3,6090.102
 Burwood Community Voice3,5590.101
 Residents For Mosman3,1550.091
 Our Sustainable Future2,7920.082
 Albury Citizens and Ratepayers2,7510.081
 Parramatta Better Local Government2,6020.070
 Communist2,3520.071 1
 Sex Party2,1490.06+0.060
 Save Our State8880.020
 Kogarah Residents8040.020
 Socialist Alliance7240.020
 Protectionist2560.010
 Family First1260.010
 Democrats1030.010
 Total[10] 3,425,343100.00–––

Aftermath

The Liberal Democrats had their first-ever electoral victories, with Jeff Pettett and Clinton Mead elected to Ku-ring-gai Council and Campbelltown City Council respectively.

The election of Tony Oldfield to Auburn City Council remains the only time the present-day Communist Party of Australia had had an electoral win.

Australia First councillor Maurice Girotto left the party in 2013 to sit as an independent, before joining the Christian Democrats in March 2016.[11]

Following the elections, major changes occurred as a result of the enactment of the Local Government (Areas) Act 1948 and as a result of a review by the NSW Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) that commenced in 2013. On 12 May 2016, following a further review by the Minister for Local Government and the independent Local Government Boundaries Commission, Premier Mike Baird announced Stage 1 starting with 19 new councils, through amalgamations and mergers, with immediate effect. The Minister indicated in principle support to create a further nine new councils, subject to the decision of the courts.[12] [13] On the same day, the Governor of New South Wales acted on the advice of the Minister, and proclaimed the 19 new local government areas. Another proclamation occurred a few months later with the amalgamation of City of Botany Bay and City of Rockdale.[14]

This resulted in 79 councils being contested in 2016 and 46 in 2017, before the vast majority contested together again in 2021.

By-elections

See also: 2014 Newcastle lord mayoral by-election. The New South Wales Electoral Commission held a number of by-elections to fill vacancies on councils after the 2012 elections up until 2016.[15]

CouncilWardBeforeChangeResult after preference distribution
CouncillorPartyCauseDateDatePartyCandidate%
HurstvilleHurstville15 March 2014Labor Brent Thomas57.59
LiberalTim Feng30.44
WoollahraDouble Bay15 March 2014LiberalJames Keulemans55.80
Residents FirstAnne Crooks25.25
WilloughbySailors BayGail Giles-GidneyIndependent LiberalElected as mayor12 April 201414 June 2014IndependentRachel Hill64.79
IndependentVache Kahramanian22.51
BrewarrinaUnsubdividedJeanette BarkerIndependentDeathMarch 201421 June 2014IndependentBill Loughnan56.48
IndependentTommy Stanton43.52
LeichhardtBirrabirragal/BalmainMelinda ManikasLiberalDeath8 May 20142 August 2014IndependentJohn Stamolis60.61
LaborAaron Di Pietro39.39
WoollahraDouble Bay23 August 2014IndependentJohn DoyleN/A
Elected unopposed
CobarUnsubdivided23 August 2014IndependentPeter Abbott85.80
IndependentPeter Florance14.20
MarrickvilleWestEmanuel TsardouliasLaborDeath19 August 201423 August 2014LaborDaniel Barbar50.08
GreensJustine Langford33.05
Blue MountainsFirst Ward15 November 2014LaborSarah Shrubb53.71
GreensKerry Brown46.29
Blue MountainsSecond Ward15 November 2014LaborVictoria Arney53.01
IndependentRob Thompson46.99
Clarence ValleyUnsubdivided21 February 2015IndependentArthur LysaughtN/A
Elected unopposed
NewcastleWard 321 February 2015LaborDeclan Clausen53.15
IndependentKath Elliott46.85
RydeEast21 February 2015LiberalJane Stott52.77
LaborPenny Pedersen47.23
WakoolB Ward5 March 2016IndependentDavid LandiniN/A
Elected unopposed
WakoolC WardColin Membrey IndependentResignationDecember 20155 March 2016No candidate declared elected
WakoolC WardN/AN/ANo candidate elected5 March 20169 April 2016IndependentAlan Mathers69.06
IndependentChristine Dartnell30.94

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Results by Local Government Area . New South Wales Electoral Commission . https://web.archive.org/web/20231228232610/https://pastvtr.elections.nsw.gov.au/LGE2012/lge-index.htm . 28 December 2023.
  2. Web site: Shellharbour is latest to join the ranks of sacked councils . 10 July 2008 . Sydney Morning Herald.
  3. News: Enough evidence to sack Shellharbour Council: inquiry . ABC News. 12 June 2008 .
  4. Web site: City of Fairfield election, 2016 . 25 August 2016 . The Tally Room.
  5. Web site: City of Penrith election, 2016 . 31 August 2016 . The Tally Room.
  6. Web site: NSW council election – statewide results . 14 September 2016 . The Tally Room.
  7. Web site: Local government register of political parties . New South Wales Electoral Commission.
  8. Web site: Liberal candidate quits over infighting . Sydney Morning Herald.
  9. Web site: Meet the candidates in Ashfield-Djarrawunang . St George and Sutherland Shire Leader.
  10. Web site: 2012 NSW Local Council Elections . ABC News . https://web.archive.org/web/20131031003123/http://www.abc.net.au/elections/nsw/2012/council/ . 31 October 2013.
  11. Web site: Girotto quits Australia First . 3 November 2013 . The Weekend Westener.
  12. Web site: Introduction . Stronger Councils . . 12 May 2016 . 12 May 2016 .
  13. New councils for NSW . Family & Community Services . . 12 May 2016 . 12 May 2016 .
  14. Web site: Local Government (Council Amalgamations) Proclamation 2016 . 12 May 2016 . Stronger Councils . .
  15. Web site: Local government election results . New South Wales Electoral Commission.

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