Woollahra council holds a referendum on number of councillors

ABC NEWS (Australia)

When voters in New South Wales head to the polls on Saturday, some will be required to do more than elect their local government representatives. Residents in five areas will vote on whether to decrease the number of councillors representing them.

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00:00The heart of local democracy in Woollahra enjoys harbour views, but the politics of

00:07the council in Sydney's eastern suburbs are not so sunny.

00:11This is definitely a gerrymander for liberal control of Woollahra Council.

00:16It's also an affront on democracy.

00:18In tandem with Saturday's local government elections, the council is holding a referendum

00:23on reducing the number of councillors from 15 to 9.

00:26The Liberal Party, which has an eight-seat majority, is prosecuting the yes case.

00:30The reality is too many chefs in the kitchen applies to council as much as it does to corporations.

00:37The change would take effect in 2028, with the council's five wards likely to merge into three.

00:43I think it will entrench the Liberal majority and I think it will make it a really lonely

00:47place for independents or any Greens that are left.

00:51It's estimated to save ratepayers $200,000 a year.

00:55We believe that money should be back in the pockets of voters.

00:58You can't put a cost on democracy.

01:01Five local government areas will vote on reducing councillors.

01:05Other councils will hold referenda on abolishing wards and having the mayor elected by residents

01:10instead of councillors.

01:11Here at a pre-polling place in Woollahra, few residents are aware of the referendum

01:16until they arrive to vote.

01:18The number of wards we have in Woollahra is ideal because the different wards are very disparate.

01:25The referendum result is binding.

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