Issues Meeting with State Members

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Local Government Elections

Pre-Election Seminar
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Welcome

Presentation on Local Government Elections 2004
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Session Overview

• Legal Framework, Councils Structure, Roles,
  Responsibilities Accountabilities
• Councillor Vicky King, President ALGWA (NSW
  Branch)
• What you need to know about being a Councillor
• Councillor Jackie Greenow, Secretary ALGWA
  (NSW Branch)
• Councillor Darriea Turley, Former Country Vice
  President ALGWA (NSW Branch)
• Hands up for Women Kit
• Department for Women
• The Electoral System
• Warren Taylor, Deputy Director Strategic
  Services, Local Government Association of NSW
  and Shires Association of NSW
• How to run a campaign
• Councillor Marilyn Perkins, Country Vice
  President, ALGWA (NSW Branch)

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The Grass Roots of Local Government

• Reference source Grass Roots Col Dunkleys
  Guide to Local Government (Geoffrey Atherden,
  2003) Reference

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How Councils Function
Councillor Vicky King President ALGWA (NSW) Branch
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Our System of GovernmentThe Three Spheres of
Government
STATE GOVERNMENT Public Hospitals Public
Schools Fire Brigades Ambulance Police
COMMONWEALTH GOVERNMENT Foreign
Affairs Defence Telecommunications Immigration Pen
sions
COUNCIL Issues Regional Environmental Social Eco
nomic Infrastructure Operating Environment
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Council Charter - Local Government Act 1993

• Provide services and facilities for the community
  and ensure services are managed efficiently and
  effectively

• Exercise community leadership

• Exercise its functions consistent with, and
  actively promotes the principles of
  multiculturalism

• To promote and to provide and plan for the needs
  of children

• Manage, develop, protect, restore, enhance and
  conserve the environment

• Have regard to the long term and cumulative
  effects of its decisions

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Council Charter - Local Government Act 1993

• It is the custodian and trustee of public assets
  and must effectively account for and manage the
  assets

• Facilitate involvement in the development,
  improvement, and coordination of local government

• Raise funds for local purposes by the fair
  imposition of rates, charges and fees, by income
  earned from investments and, when appropriate, by
  borrowings and grants

• Keep the local community and the State Government
  informed about its activities

• Ensure that in its exercise of its regulatory
  function, it acts consistently and without bias

• To be a responsible employer

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Council Structure / Accountability
COUNCIL
General Manager
Community
Staff
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How is Council Responsible to the Community

• Ultimately on election day every 4 years

• Annual Management Plan sets out Councils program

• Draft Management Plan on display for at least 28
  days

• Submissions are considered prior to adopting the
  Management Plan

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How is Council Responsible to the Community
(continued)

• The Plan sets out

• Activities to be undertaken

• Revenue policy (outlines income and
  expenditure, pricing policy and proposed
  borrowings, rates and charges)

• General Manager reports quarterly to Council

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Councillors Set Directions - Being Strategic
Developing a Council Vision
Steering as a council
Articulating the Values
Determining the Direction
Setting the Objectives and Performance Goals
Review of Performance
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Overview - Role of the Mayor

• Acts as the Spokesperson

• Represents the Council

• Exercises urgent policy-making functions between
  meetings

• Undertakes civic and ceremonial functions

• Presides as Chairperson during Council meetings

• The Council may delegate other functions to the
  Mayor

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Overview Role of Councillors

• As the governing body of the Council, serves the
  communitys needs
• Direct and control the Councils affairs in line
  with legal requirements
• Determine Councils vision
• Determine policies and objectives
• Act responsibly within the Local Govt Act
• Individual Councillors do not have the right to
  direct council staff in day to day activities

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Overview - Role of General Manager

• Delegations under the Local Government Act 1993
  are clearly specified
• Responsible for day to day management
  (operational matters)of the Council and carry out
  Council decisions
• Responsible for Council staff
• Can delegate functions to other staff

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Your Council Inc.
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Your Council Inc. - continued
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Your Council Inc.
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Acting With Integrity

• Councillors must always act with integrity
• Act in the public interest
• Avoid conflicts of interests
• Law provides for declarations of pecuniary
  interest to be made by Councillors
• It is an offence not to declare a pecuniary
  interest

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Councils Code of Conduct

• Councils have a Code of Conduct
• Councillors are to act in accordance with the
  Code
• Councillors are seen to be in a position of
  influence
• On occasions can be subject to improper offers
• Naïve to consider that you would never be
  approached

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Questions ??
Where
Who
HOW
What
When
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What you need to know about being a Councillor
Councillor Jackie Greenow Secretary ALGWA (NSW
Branch) Councillor Darriea Turley Former Country
Vice President ALGWA (NSW Branch)
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Tips

• Know a Councillors Responsibility
• Realise the time involved to do the job properly
• Important to make sure you have the support of
  your family
• Network - utilise your mentoring groups and
  associations
• Communicate with your community - know their
  issues
• Attend workshops, conferences seminars to
  enhance your knowledge

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Why More Women are Needed
Department for Women
Hands Up For Women Kit
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Questions ??
Where
Who
HOW
What
When
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Election Information
Warren Taylor Deputy Director Strategic
Services Local Government Association of NSW and
Shires Association of NSW
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Election Information

• How is Council Elected
• Election Responsibilities
• Overview the Election Process
• Candidate Information
• Nomination Process and Costs
• Contested Elections
• Scrutineers
• The Count and Declaration of the Poll
• Independent or Registered Party
• Critical Dates

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How is a Council elected ?

• An election is held covering the Local
  Government Area
• A pre-determined number of Councillors are
  elected either to Wards or to the Local
  Government Area as a whole
• A Mayor can be elected either by popular vote or
  by the elected Council

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Election Responsibility

• The Electoral Commissioner is responsible for
  the Local Government Election

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Candidate Eligibility

• To be eligible to stand as a Candidate you must

• Be at least 18 years of age

• Be an Australian citizen (or a British subject
  on an Australian roll on 25 January 1984)

• Be a resident or ratepayer of the Councils
  local government area or

• Be an occupier of rateable land in the LGA and
  be on the roll of electors for the area

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Disqualified Candidates

• Persons disqualified from standing as a Candidate

• Persons serving a sentence including
  periodical detention

• Persons convicted of certain election or
  property offences

• Persons prohibited from managing companies

• Serving Judges

• Returning Officers for the Council concerned

• Employees of the Council concerned

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Are you Eligible?

• If in doubt - seek advice
• It is your responsibility - not the Returning
  Officers

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Election Information - Nominations

• The Returning Officer gives notice in the local
  paper of the election
• This calls for nomination proposals and sets out
  the nomination procedure

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Submitting Nominations

• Proposed for nomination by two proposers enrolled
  for the same ward or areaas the one for which he
  or she is being nominated

or

• Proposed for nomination by the registered
  officer of a registered political party

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Submitting Nominations

• If a Council is divided into wards a candidate
  may only stand as a Councillor for one ward
• If there is a popularly elected mayor- a
  candidate may stand forthe office of Mayor and
  the office of Councillor, but may not be
  elected to both offices.

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Candidates Information Sheet

• The information sheet is to be completed on a
  form supplied by the returning officer.
• Disclosure of Funding

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What does it cost?
125
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Withdrawal of Nomination

• Nominations can be withdrawn by giving notice to
  the Returning Officer by a set time usually on
  the nomination day
• This is important if a candidate has been
  proposed for nomination in more than one ward

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Nominations Advice to the Public

• The Returning Officer will make available a list
  of nominated candidates

• The list states

• The candidates full name

• Residential address

• Name the candidate wants to appear on the
  ballot paper

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Nomination Day

• The Returning Officer publicly reads

• The names of proposed nominees

• The name the candidate wishes to appear on the
  ballot paper

• The ward or area the candidate is standing for

• Any withdrawals received (note the nomination
  papers are then cancelled)

• The Returning Officer formally nominates each
  candidate for the election who has submitted a
  valid nomination paper

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No ballot needed when..

• The number of candidates nominated is no greater
  than the number of councillors to be elected
• The Returning Officer declares in writing the
  names of candidates elected automatically for the
  relevant ward or area
• Note If more candidates are nominated than
  there are vacancies a contested election will be
  held.

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Contested Election

• The ballot paper
• The names are shown in the order determined by a
  ballot conducted by the Returning Officer
  immediately after nominating the candidates
• A Candidate or their nominee is entitled to be
  present during the determining of the order of
  the names on the ballot paper

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Election Day - Scrutineers

• Scrutineers are appointed in writing by
  candidates to observe electoral process and
  protect the interests of the candidate
• Each candidate can appoint one scrutineer for
  each table used at a polling place in the
  candidates ward during voting hours

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Election Day Scrutineers Role

• Is to
• Watch, take notes and ask questions of the
  Returning Officer, but cannot interfere with
  the voting or counting and cannot touch ballot
  papers

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The Count

• The Electoral Official in charge of the polling
  place counts and records first preferences
• Scrutineers may be present

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The Count - continued

• The Returning Officer is responsible for counting
  all Postal and Pre-Poll Votes

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Candidate Information
Political Party
Independent
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Register as a Political Party
A party registered for the State elections is
automatically registered for Local Government
Elections
An existing party must have been registered by
June 2003 to be able to propose candidates and
have the party name printed on the ballot paper
for the March 2004 elections
A new party that was not registered before 13
August 2002 will not be able to nominate
candidates or have a party name on the ballot
paper
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Registered Parties Transitional Arrangements

• Party Registration Kits are available from the
  State Electoral Office or on its web site at
• www.seo.nsw.gov.au

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Grouping of Candidates

• New provisions apply to the 2004 Local Government
  Elections - Contact the State Electoral Office or
  on its web site at
• www.seo.nsw.gov.au

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New Voting System - Group Voting Squares

• To get a Voting Square above the line, you must
• Request the Square from the Returning Officer,
• In a Council with no wards, a group must have at
  least half the number of candidates to be
  elected and
• In a Council with wards, a group must have at
  least the number of candidates to be elected in
  the ward
• Note A group does not have to be comprised of a
  registered political party

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No Square Above Line

• Unless more than one group has requested a voting
  square, there will be no group voting squares
  above the line. Voters will have to mark their
  preferences for individual candidates

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PREFERENCES(Voting above the line)

• A voter can place the number 1 in the square
  for the group they wish to vote for

and ...

• If they wish, they can also vote for additional
  groups by placing consecutive numbers in the
  above-line voting squares

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Example
1
2
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Voting Below the Line

• Some voters may wish to vote for candidates
  individually.
• They do not have to vote above the line. The
  direction on the ballot paper for below the line
  voting will be to show preferences at least equal
  to the number to be elected.

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Example

10
4
8
1
5
3
9
2
7
6
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Declaration of the Poll
The Electoral Commissioner approves the
declaration of the poll
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Critical Dates

• Close of rolls Monday 16 February 2004.
• Invite nominations by returning officer from
  week beginning 9 February 2004.
• Close of nominations with returning officer
  500pm Wednesday 25 February 2004.
• Nomination day - Friday 27 February
  2004withdrawal of nominations 1100amclose of
  grouping applications / request group voting
  square noonwithdrawal of claim for group
  voting square noonnomination of candidates and
  ballot-paper draws by returning officer (after)
  noon.
• Applications for registration of how-to-vote
  material to Electoral Commmissioner from Friday
  27 February to Monday 8 March 2004

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Critical Dates

• Pre-poll voting period from Monday 15 March to
  600pm Friday 26 March 2004.
• Close postal voting applications with returning
  officer 500pm Monday 22 March 2004.
• Polling day Saturday 27 March 2004

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Questions ??
Where
Who
HOW
What
When
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Running a Successful Campaign
Councillor Marilyn Perkins Country Vice President
ALGWA (NSW Branch)
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Successful Campaigning
Decide on your Goal
Choose your Campaign Team
Assign Tasks to Your Team
Get a Personal Assistant
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Budgeting
Depending on how big or small you want your
campaign to be, these are some of the items you
might be paying for
How-to-Votes
Phone
Stationery
Posters
Photos
Nomination Fee
Distribution of material
T-shirts
Brochures
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On the Campaign Trail
Now that you have your team, budget and goals in
mind, its time to get out there and meet the
people!
Meetings
Ways of meeting people
Political Forums
Community Events
Door-Knocking
Stalls
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Media and Promotions
Apart from meeting people face to face, there are
other ways of getting your name known and your
message across.
Local Journalists
Media Releases
Direct Mail and Letter-Boxing
Letters to the Editor
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Election Material - Warning

• Ensure the public is not misled

• Must contain name and address of authorising
  person and printer

• Register material with Electoral Office

• Posters
• Cannot be placed on power poles or buildings and
  structures controlled by statutory bodies
• Cannot be over 8000 square centimetres in size

• Polling Day
• Only approved How-To-Vote material can be
  distributed

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Getting those Votes - Election Day
Plan Ahead - Dont Leave Your Run Too Late
Voting takes place in 3 ways - postal vote,
pre-poll and on election day.
If you only start campaigning in earnest during
the last week before election day, you may have
missed out on winning crucial votes that have
already been cast.
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Getting those Votes!

• On Election Day - Polling Booths
• Hand out how-to-votes
• Have someone scrutinise the count for you

• Postal Vote and Pre-Poll
• Hand out how-to-votes at a pre-poll

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Questions ??
Where
Who
HOW
What
When
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Useful Contacts

• NSW Electoral Commission
• 1300 135 736www.seo.nsw.gov.au
• NSW Local Government and Shires Association
• 9242 4000www.lgov.org.au
• Australian Local Government Association
• 02 6122 9400www.alga.asn.au

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ALGWA
Australian Local Government Womens Association
Inc. A peak womens organisation advancing the
role of all women in local government
ALGWA is there to support you
Freecall 1800 621 952 Website
www.ALGWA.org.au or contact any ALGWA member
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Women Into Politics

• Women Into Politics Inc.
• A Coalition of Womens Organisations and
  Individuals

Tel [phone] Website www.womenintopolitics.org
.au
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NSW Department for Women
NSW Department for Women Helps focus government
and other organisations on important social and
economic issues to benefit women
Freecall 1800 817 227 Email www.women.nsw.gov.au
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The CEOs Last Word

• Getting your Councillors to act with unity on
  anything is like herding stray cats towards a
  bath.
• (Greg Dominelli, General Manager, Arcadia Waters
  Council 1995-2003)

Its up to you