❓ Mr. Castrilli asks for an update on recent local government elections. The Minister provides data on candidate numbers, voter turnout, and representation of young people and women, highlighting areas for improvement in voter engagement.
AnsweredQoN 906Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS
906. Mr G.M. CASTRILLI to the
Minister for Local Government:
As somebody who takes
a particular interest in local government, can the minister provide the house
with an update on the recent local government elections?
906. Mr G.M. CASTRILLI to the
Minister for Local Government:
As somebody who takes
a particular interest in local government, can the minister provide the house
with an update on the recent local government elections?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Bunbury for the question and his
interest in local government. I will give members an update from last Saturday's
local government elections. As you know, Mr Speaker, 138 local governments in
Western Australia went to the poll in some shape or form last weekend. Just for
the record, we had 1 021 candidates vying for 449 positions as mayors,
presidents or to fill council vacancies. That is a good strong turnout of
candidates for council, which is good to see. It is also good to take the
opportunity to acknowledge those who were elected for the first time into
council and to ensure they take the opportunity to make themselves very much
aware of the Local Government Act but also, more importantly, take up some
training to ensure these councils have the right tools to do the job, which is
very important. Another thing that is interesting is the preliminary data that
I have that we had a turnout of 27.5 per cent of eligible people who took the
opportunity to exercise their right to vote.
Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Midland, if you want to pass salutations, do so, but do not disturb
proceedings. I call you to order for the first time.
Mr A.J. SIMPSON :
That was an increase on the figures for the 2013 local government elections, so
it was good to see. Some local governments got up to a 50 and 60 per cent
turnout, but across the metropolitan area it was around the high 20s, which is
an opportunity that we need to work on and something we will try to do. My
department, through the Western Australian Electoral Commission, put a fair bit
of time and effort into raising people's awareness to nominate for
council and register to vote, and also encouraging more young people and women
to get involved in local government. I would like to take the opportunity to
acknowledge a young gentleman in Capel. At 18 years of age, he is the youngest
councillor elected. Sebastian Schiano was elected into the council and is the
youngest councillor in Western Australia. It is fantastic to have young people
in local government. Also, more women were voted into local government, which
is very important. In 2013, only just over 30 per cent of councillors elected
were female. This weekend we got to 35.4 per cent, which is really good to see.
As the Minister for Seniors and Volunteering, women take up the majority of the
roles of volunteering in our community, so it is great to take that next step
to ensure they can have representation in the community. I acknowledge the
great work that they have done. It was a good election campaign. One thing that
is very much noticeable to me as the minister is that if members look through
the results in today's paper, it is interesting to see a turnover in
some councils that have been quite high, and a lot were unopposed as well,
which is also a reflection on how the community as a whole respects local
government. As the Minister for Local Government, I think we still have a lot
more work to do to ensure we get more people to vote, which is very important.
There is quite a bit of a debate in the wider community on how we can engage
more with the voters to ensure they exercise their right at local government
elections and ensure they take the opportunity to vote.
interest in local government. I will give members an update from last Saturday's
local government elections. As you know, Mr Speaker, 138 local governments in
Western Australia went to the poll in some shape or form last weekend. Just for
the record, we had 1 021 candidates vying for 449 positions as mayors,
presidents or to fill council vacancies. That is a good strong turnout of
candidates for council, which is good to see. It is also good to take the
opportunity to acknowledge those who were elected for the first time into
council and to ensure they take the opportunity to make themselves very much
aware of the Local Government Act but also, more importantly, take up some
training to ensure these councils have the right tools to do the job, which is
very important. Another thing that is interesting is the preliminary data that
I have that we had a turnout of 27.5 per cent of eligible people who took the
opportunity to exercise their right to vote.
Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Midland, if you want to pass salutations, do so, but do not disturb
proceedings. I call you to order for the first time.
Mr A.J. SIMPSON :
That was an increase on the figures for the 2013 local government elections, so
it was good to see. Some local governments got up to a 50 and 60 per cent
turnout, but across the metropolitan area it was around the high 20s, which is
an opportunity that we need to work on and something we will try to do. My
department, through the Western Australian Electoral Commission, put a fair bit
of time and effort into raising people's awareness to nominate for
council and register to vote, and also encouraging more young people and women
to get involved in local government. I would like to take the opportunity to
acknowledge a young gentleman in Capel. At 18 years of age, he is the youngest
councillor elected. Sebastian Schiano was elected into the council and is the
youngest councillor in Western Australia. It is fantastic to have young people
in local government. Also, more women were voted into local government, which
is very important. In 2013, only just over 30 per cent of councillors elected
were female. This weekend we got to 35.4 per cent, which is really good to see.
As the Minister for Seniors and Volunteering, women take up the majority of the
roles of volunteering in our community, so it is great to take that next step
to ensure they can have representation in the community. I acknowledge the
great work that they have done. It was a good election campaign. One thing that
is very much noticeable to me as the minister is that if members look through
the results in today's paper, it is interesting to see a turnover in
some councils that have been quite high, and a lot were unopposed as well,
which is also a reflection on how the community as a whole respects local
government. As the Minister for Local Government, I think we still have a lot
more work to do to ensure we get more people to vote, which is very important.
There is quite a bit of a debate in the wider community on how we can engage
more with the voters to ensure they exercise their right at local government
elections and ensure they take the opportunity to vote.
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