❓ Hon Martin Aldridge asks the Minister for Local Government about the conduct of recent local government elections, specifically regarding the WA Electoral Commission's performance and the implementation of optional preferential voting. The Minister acknowledges feedback and confirms a debriefing process is underway, highlighting the successful implementation of optional preferential voting and its cost-saving benefits.
AnsweredQoN 1479Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
LOCAL GOVERNMENT — ELECTIONS
1479. Hon MARTIN ALDRIDGE to the Leader of the House
representing the Minister for Local Government:
I refer to the conduct of the recent
local government elections.
(1) Have any concerns been expressed to the minister
about the conduct of elections by the Western Australian Electoral
Commission?
(2) Is the
minister satisfied with the conduct of the local government elections with
regard to the performance of the WA Electoral Commission?
(3) Given that the recent elections were the first
that included optional preferential voting, does the government have any
plan to review the conduct of elections; and, if so, can the minister please
provide detail?
1479. Hon MARTIN ALDRIDGE to the Leader of the House
representing the Minister for Local Government:
I refer to the conduct of the recent
local government elections.
(1) Have any concerns been expressed to the minister
about the conduct of elections by the Western Australian Electoral
Commission?
(2) Is the
minister satisfied with the conduct of the local government elections with
regard to the performance of the WA Electoral Commission?
(3) Given that the recent elections were the first
that included optional preferential voting, does the government have any
plan to review the conduct of elections; and, if so, can the minister please
provide detail?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1)–(3) The Western Australian Electoral Commission
operates impartially in conducting elections. There is always commentary
and feedback on the conduct of local government ordinary elections. It is also
usual practice to discuss and debrief on the
conduct of elections. The Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries is engaging with the Western Australian Electoral Commission to
debrief on the conduct of the recent ordinary elections. Optional preferential
voting was successfully implemented at these elections. The new backfilling provisions, which have been made possible by the
optional preferential voting system , mean that the need for
extraordinary elections is reduced, saving costs for ratepayers and preventing
disruptions to councils.
some notice of the question.
(1)–(3) The Western Australian Electoral Commission
operates impartially in conducting elections. There is always commentary
and feedback on the conduct of local government ordinary elections. It is also
usual practice to discuss and debrief on the
conduct of elections. The Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries is engaging with the Western Australian Electoral Commission to
debrief on the conduct of the recent ordinary elections. Optional preferential
voting was successfully implemented at these elections. The new backfilling provisions, which have been made possible by the
optional preferential voting system , mean that the need for
extraordinary elections is reduced, saving costs for ratepayers and preventing
disruptions to councils.
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