2016 New South Wales local elections explained

Country:New South Wales
Type:parliamentary
Ongoing:no
Election Date:10 September 2016
Previous Election:2012 New South Wales local elections
Previous Year:2012
Next Year:
2021
Seats For Election:79 of the 128 local government areas in New South Wales
Leader1:N/A
Party1:Independents
Seats1:545
Popular Vote1:678,591
Percentage1:39.59%
Swing1: 1.45
Leader2:N/A
Party2:Australian Labor Party (New South Wales Branch)
Seats2:81
Popular Vote2:429,605
Percentage2:24.60%
Swing2: 5.43
Leader3:N/A
Party3:Liberal Party of Australia (New South Wales Division)
Seats3:48
Popular Vote3:286,013
Percentage3:16.40%
Swing3: 5.45
Leader4:No leader
Party4:The Greens NSW
Seats4:23
Popular Vote4:110,491
Percentage4:6.35%
Swing4: 0.33
Leader5:Fred Nile
Color5:7F0080
Last Election5:0
Seats Before5:1
Seats5:0
Seat Change5: 1
Popular Vote5:15,326
Percentage5:0.90%
Swing5: 0.49
Leader6:Jim Saleam
Party6:Australia First Party
Last Election6:1
Seats Before6:0
Seats6:0
Popular Vote6:4,424
Percentage6:0.27%
Swing6: 0.08
Leader7:John Humphreys
Party7:Liberal Democratic Party (Australia)
Last Election7:1
Seats Before7:1
Seats7:0
Seat Change7: 1
Popular Vote7:4,356
Percentage7:0.27%
Swing7: 0.04
Leader8:No leader
Party8:Animal Justice
Last Election8:Did not contest
Seats Before8:0
Seats8:0
Popular Vote8:193
Percentage8:0.02%
Swing8: 0.02

The 2016 New South Wales local elections were held on 10 September 2016 to elect the councils of 79 of the 128 local government areas (LGAs) of New South Wales. Several councils also held mayoral elections and/or referendums.[1]

The elections were conducted by the New South Wales Electoral Commission, with the exception of Fairfield, Gunnedah, Kempsey, Lake Macquarie and Penrith, who chose to conduct their own elections.[1]

The election in Tweed was deferred until 29 October 2016 due to the death of a candidate.[2]

Background

Following the 2012 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.[3] [4] 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.[5]

This resulted in 46 councils not being contested until 2017, before the vast majority contested together again in 2021.

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.[6]

Party changes before elections

A number of councillors joined or left parties before the 2016 elections.

In Fairfield, Labor councillor George Barcha was handed a 6-month suspension for branch stacking and ran fourth on the party's Cabravale Ward ticket at the election.[7]

Council Ward Councillor Former party New party Date
CessnockWard CSuellen Wrightson Liberal Palmer United23 June 2013
PenrithEastMaurice Girotto Australia First Independent31 October 2013
HurstvillePeakhurstMichelle Stevens Labor Independent3 April 2014
BallinaWard BJeff Johnson Greens Independent16 February 2015
Wagga WaggaUnsubdividedPaul Funnell Democratic Labour Country5 March 2015
Wagga WaggaUnsubdividedPaul Funnell Country Independent29 March 2015
FairfieldCabravaleGeorge Barcha Labor Independent Labor11 November 2015
BlacktownWard 5Jacqueline Donaldson Liberal Independent2015
PenrithEastMaurice Girotto Independent Christian Democrats16 March 2016
FairfieldCabravaleDai Le Liberal Independent16 August 2016
FairfieldMayorFrank Carbone Labor Independent30 August 2016

Results

PartyVotes%SwingSeatsChange
 Independents678,59139.59+1.45545
 Labor429,60524.60+5.4381
 Liberal286,01316.40−5.4548
 Greens110,4916.35−0.3323
 Clover Moore Independent Team45,2242.60+1.715 1
 Independent National40,8962.35+1.3615
 Shoalhaven Independents21,5101.31+0.985 2
 Independent Liberal21,3641.30−2.575
 Independent Lake Alliance20,9781.21+0.441 3
 Lake Mac Independents19,0361.10+1.103 3
 Christian Democrats15,3260.90+0.490
 Liverpool Community Independents Team13,2070.75+0.542 1
 Totally Locally Committed7,8650.45+0.242
 Community First7,0490.41+0.251
 Sydney Matters6,0510.35+0.351 1
 Australia First4,4240.27+0.080 1
 Liberal Democrats4,3560.27−0.040 1
 Our Sustainable Future4,2950.26+0.182
 Bob Thompson3,8910.25+0.131
 Independent Labor3,7000.23−0.244
 Community Service Environment2,1520.14+0.020 1
 For A Better Shoalhaven1,3940.10+0.100
 Albury Citizens and Ratepayers3010.03−0.050 1
 Animal Justice1930.02+0.020
 Total 1,747,912100.00–––

By-elections

The New South Wales Electoral Commission held a number of by-elections to fill vacancies on councils after the 2016 elections up until 2021.[8]

CouncilWardBeforeChangeResult after preference distribution
CouncillorPartyCauseDateDatePartyCandidate%
CampbelltownUnsubdividedFred BorgTotally Locally CommittedDeath20 December 201618 March 2017Labor Ben Gilholme56.47
Community FirstJosh Cotter43.53
LithgowUnsubdivided8 April 2017IndependentDarryl Goodwin39.83
IndependentDeanna Goodsell21.04
Port Macquarie-HastingsUnsubdivided29 July 2017IndependentPeta Pinson51.07
IndependentRobert Turner48.93
BrewarrinaUnsubdivided19 August 2017IndependentMichael HertsletN/A
Elected unopposed
NarromineUnsubdivided19 August 2017IndependentTrudy Everingham56.52
IndependentRuth Carney43.48
TenterfieldWard D19 August 2017IndependentBob Rogan54.43
IndependentBrian Brown45.57
WollondillyUnsubdivided28 October 2017IndependentMatt Smith56.62
IndependentLaura Egan-Burt43.38
CoonambleUnsubdivided26 March 2018IndependentRobert Thomas54.61
IndependentPat Cullen45.39
BerriganUnsubdivided14 July 2018IndependentRoger Reynoldson68.39
IndependentRuth Silvester31.61
Greater HumeEast24 November 2018IndependentLea Parker52.34
IndependentGreg Mason24.67
CobarUnsubdivided8 December 2018IndependentKate Winders51.53
IndependentBenny Hewlett48.47
GriffithWard A16 February 2019Ind. NationalGlen Andreazza55.25
IndependentDamien Marcus44.75
LachlanWard D16 February 2019IndependentElaine Bendall63.52
IndependentDennis Brady16.01
UrallaWard A16 February 2019IndependentTom O'Connor66.91
IndependentCharlotte Field-Sampson33.09
CoonambleUnsubdivided29 June 2019IndependentPat Cullen33.11
IndependentBarbara Deans24.64

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Results by Local Government Area . New South Wales Electoral Commission . https://web.archive.org/web/20231229030733/https://pastvtr.elections.nsw.gov.au/LGE2016/lge-index.htm . 29 December 2023.
  2. Web site: Anthony . Bob . New Tweed election date opens door for more potential candidates . Gold Coast Bulletin.
  3. Web site: Introduction . Stronger Councils . . 12 May 2016 . 12 May 2016 .
  4. New councils for NSW . Family & Community Services . . 12 May 2016 . 12 May 2016 .
  5. Web site: Local Government (Council Amalgamations) Proclamation 2016 . 12 May 2016 . Stronger Councils . .
  6. Web site: Local government register of political parties . New South Wales Electoral Commission.
  7. Web site: McClymont . Kate . Fairfield councillor and ALP staffer George Barcha cops six months suspension for branch-stacking . 11 November 2015 . Sydney Morning Herald.
  8. Web site: Local government election results . New South Wales Electoral Commission.

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