2017 New South Wales local elections explained

Country:New South Wales
Type:parliamentary
Ongoing:no
Election Date:9 September 2017
Next Election:2021 New South Wales local elections
Next Year:2021
Registered:2,730,000
Turnout:76.60%
Seats For Election:46 of the 128 local government areas in New South Wales
Leader1:N/A
Party1:Independents
Seats1:241
Popular Vote1:687,863
Percentage1:32.26%
Leader2:N/A
Party2:Australian Labor Party (New South Wales Branch)
Seats2:105
Popular Vote2:535,852
Percentage2:25.62%
Leader3:N/A
Party3:Liberal Party of Australia (New South Wales Division)
Seats3:96
Popular Vote3:533,377
Percentage3:25.50%
Leader4:No leader
Party4:The Greens NSW
Seats4:31
Popular Vote4:180,532
Percentage4:8.63%
Image5: OLC
Leader5:Paul Garrard
Party5:OLC
Last Election5:Did not exist
Seats Before5:1
Seats5:4
Seat Change5: 3
Popular Vote5:36,250
Percentage5:1.731%
Swing5: 1.73
Color5:118080
Leader6:Fred Nile
Color6:7F0080
Last Election6:0
Seats Before6:0
Seats6:0
Popular Vote6:6,770
Percentage6:0.32%
Leader7:John Humphreys
Party7:Liberal Democratic Party (Australia)
Last Election7:1
Seats Before7:1
Seats7:1
Popular Vote7:4,177
Percentage7:0.20%
Swing7: 0.04
Leader8:Robert Borsak
Party8:SFF
Last Election8:0
Seats Before8:0
Seats8:2
Seat Change8: 2
Popular Vote8:3,821
Percentage8:0.18%
Leader9:Jim Saleam
Party9:Australia First Party
Last Election9:0
Seats Before9:0
Seats9:0
Popular Vote9:3,279
Percentage9:0.16%

The 2017 New South Wales local elections were held on 9 September 2017 to elect the councils of 46 of the 128 local government areas (LGAs) in New South Wales. Several councils also held mayoral elections and/or referendums.[1] [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 79 councils being contested in 2016 before the vast majority contested together again in 2021.

Political 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 2017 elections.

Council Ward Councillor Former party New party Date
ShellharbourUnsubdividedPaul Rankin Liberal Independent30 October 2013
StrathfieldUnsubdividedNella Hall Independent Christian Democrats2015
Ku-ring-gaiGordonCheryl Szatow Liberal Independent19 September 2016
WollongongWard 3Bede Crasnich Liberal Independent26 August 2017
ShellharbourUnsubdividedKellie Marsh Liberal IndependentAugust 2017
Ku-ring-gaiComenarraJeff Pettett Liberal Democrats Independent2017

Results

See main article: Results of the 2017 New South Wales local elections.

PartyVotes%SwingSeatsChange
 Independents687,86332.26241
 Labor535,85225.62105
 Liberal533,37725.5096
 Greens180,5328.6331
 Your Northern Beaches40,8281.95+1.956 6
 Our Local Community36,2501.73+1.734 4
 Local Independent Party13,6310.650 2
 Good For Manly8,0450.65+0.651 1
 Residents First Woollahra7,1500.34+0.125
 Christian Democrats6,7700.320
 Serving Mosman5,4020.26+0.143
 Liberal Democrats4,1770.201
 Residents For Mosman4,1750.20+0.112 1
 Lorraine Wearne4,0550.19–0.041 1
 Shooters, Fishers and Farmers3,8210.182
 Independent Community Voice3,5750.171 1
 Kogarah Residents3,3840.16+0.161 1
 Independent One Nation3,3430.16+0.161 1
 Independent Christian Democrats3,2980.16+0.161 1
 Australia First3,2790.160
 Residents Action Group3,1580.150 2
 Ben Shields Team2,6500.13+0.131 1
 Communist1,5950.07+0.000 1
 Strathfield Independents1,4670.07+0.071 1
 Animal Justice8040.040
 Socialist Alliance4070.020
 Independent Greens2360.01+0.010
 Total 2,091,126100.00–––
 Registered voters / turnout2,730,000 76.60––

Council totals

CouncilSeats[7]
Others
Armidale119
Bathurst18
Bayside5703
Blayney106
Burwood241
Cabonne12
Canada Bay3411
Canterbury-Bankstown5910
Central Coast46050
Cootamundra-Gundagai9
Cumberland5802
Dubbo19
Dungog180
Edward River9
Federation9
Georges River564
Hilltops11
Hornsby5221
Hunter's Hill25
Inner West2553
Ku-ring-gai91
Lane Cove315
Maitland4504
Mid-Coast128
Mosman7
Murray River9
Murrumbidgee9
Newcastle1714
North Sydney91
Northern Beaches5028
Oberon9
Orange182
Parramatta6513
Port Stephens19
Queanbeyan-Palerang1217
Randwick45330
Ryde4422
Shellharbour133
Snowy Monaro110
Snowy Valleys9
Strathfield322
The Hills93000
Waverley5430
Willoughby112
Wollongong3622
Woollahra8025

Referendums and polls

In addition to the local and mayoral elections, four LGAs held local referendums on questions relating to electoral structures. Advisory polls were also held in Cumberland and Dungog.

Referendums

LGAQuestionYESNOTurnoutRef
Votes %Votes %Total formal%
Cabonne"Do you favour reducing councillor numbers from twelve (12) to nine (9)?"4,897 60.93,14939.18,04684.6[8]
Dungog"Dungog Shire Council currently has nine (9) Councillors with the Mayor elected by the Councillors. Do you approve of the popular election of the Mayor with seven (7) Councillors including the Mayor?"3,957 71.91,54728.15,50487.4[9]
"Do you approve of the abolition of wards?"2,30245.92,712 54.15,01487.4
North Sydney"Do you favour election of the Mayor by Councillors for a term of two years?"17,271 52.415,67147.632,94272.6[10]
Shellharbour"The Mayor of City of Shellharbour Council is currently elected annually by the seven (7) Councillors. Do you favour the election of the Mayor by the voters of City of Shellharbour for a four year term which necessitates an increase in the number of Councillors by one (1)? This will result in a total of nine (9) elected representatives made up of one (1) Mayor and eight (8) Councillors."27,211 70.111,58629.938,79784.1[11]
"Currently the City of Shellharbour Local Government Area has no Ward structure. Do you favour the City of Shellharbour Local Government Area being Wards?"18,038 50.317,79249.735,83084.1

Polls

LGAQuestionYESNOTurnoutRef
Votes %Votes %Total formal%
Cumberland"Cumberland Council currently operates five public swimming pools in the Local Government Area. Each year the five pools expect to cater for a total of approximately 405,000 visitors. In 2018 it is estimated that the total operating costs of all five pools will exceed revenues by almost $2.15 million (which is 2.4% of Council’s rates income), and it is expected that the shortfall will increase in subsequent years. Council subsidises these pools by using other funding sources, such as rates to cover the shortfall. Do you support Council continuing to operate and subsidise all of these swimming pools?"65,745 74.822,13725.287,88276.5[12]
Dungog"Do you want Dungog Shire Council to remain a stand alone Council?"2,49247.12,795 52.95,28787.4[13]
"Do you want Dungog Shire Council to begin merger discussions with Maitland City Council?"1,15223.23,821 76.84,97387.5
"Do you want Dungog Shire Council to begin merger discussions with Port Stephens Council?"2,908 55.42,33944.65,24787.4
"Do you want Dungog Shire Council to apply to the Boundaries Commission to be abolished and have the Shire area divided and joined with neighbouring local government areas?"1,44329.43,469 70.64,91287.4

Aftermath

Party defections

In 2019, Labor Cumberland councillor Steve Christou defected to Our Local Community, as did directly-elected Canada Bay mayor Angelo Tsirekas in 2021.[14] [15] OLC councillor Andrew Wilson joined The Small Business Party in 2021.[16]

By-elections

The New South Wales Electoral Commission held a number of by-elections to fill vacancies on councils following the 2017 elections up until 2021.[17]

The Central Coast Council was suspended before two by-elections in 2020 could be held.

CouncilWardBeforeChangeResult after preference distribution
CouncillorPartyCauseDateDatePartyCandidate%
MurrumbidgeeEast10 March 2018IndependentPat Brown52.47
IndependentShane Fraser47.53
The HillsWest28 July 2018LiberalJacob Jackson69.01
LaborImmanuel Selvaraj30.99
Ku-ring-gaiSt IvesDavid Citer Independent LiberalResignation2 August 201827 October 2018Ind. LiberalChristine Kay53.92
IndependentNicholas Bakker46.08
WollongongWard 324 November 2018LaborAnn Martin58.36
IndependentAmi Beck21.67
WollongongWard 3Vicky KingLaborDeath25 February 2020No by-election held due to COVID-19 pandemic
Central CoastGosford EastRebecca GaleLiberalResignation26 October 2020Council suspended before countback
Central CoastGosford WestTroy MarquartLiberalResignation26 October 2020Council suspended before countback

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Results by Local Government Area . New South Wales Electoral Commission . https://web.archive.org/web/20231228233706/https://pastvtr.elections.nsw.gov.au/LGE2017/results/index.htm . 28 December 2023.
  2. Web site: 2017 NSW Local Government Elections . ABC News . https://web.archive.org/web/20231228232012/https://www.abc.net.au/news/elections/nswlg/2017 . 28 December 2023.
  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: 2021 NSW Local Government Elections . .
  8. Web site: Cabonne . ABC News.
  9. Web site: Dungog . ABC News.
  10. Web site: North Sydney . ABC News.
  11. Web site: City of Shellharbour . ABC News.
  12. Web site: Cumberland . ABC News.
  13. Web site: Dungog . ABC News.
  14. Web site: Cumberland Council new mayor Steve Christou quits Labor Party . The Daily Telegraph.
  15. Web site: Canada Bay . ABC News.
  16. Web site: NSW council elections – who is running, and how many? . 8 November 2021 . The Tally Room.
  17. Web site: Local government election results . New South Wales Electoral Commission.

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