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]
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46 of the 128 local government areas in New South Wales | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Registered | 2,730,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Turnout | 76.60% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Results by LGA | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Background
editFollowing 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
editThe following registered parties contested this election. This does not include groups of independents:
- Animal Justice Party
- Christian Democrats
- Greens
- Labor Party
- Liberal Democrats
- Liberal Party
- Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party
- Socialist Alliance
In addition, a number of local government-registered parties also contested the elections.[6]
Party changes before elections
editA number of councillors joined or left parties before the 2017 elections.
| Council | Ward | Councillor | Former party | New party | Date | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shellharbour | Unsubdivided | Paul Rankin | Liberal | Independent | 30 October 2013 | ||
| Strathfield | Unsubdivided | Nella Hall | Independent | Christian Democrats | 2015 | ||
| Ku-ring-gai | Gordon | Cheryl Szatow | Liberal | Independent | 19 September 2016 | ||
| Wollongong | Ward 3 | Bede Crasnich | Liberal | Independent | 26 August 2017 | ||
| Shellharbour | Unsubdivided | Kellie Marsh | Liberal | Independent | August 2017 | ||
| Ku-ring-gai | Comenarra | Jeff Pettett | Liberal Democrats | Independent | 2017 | ||
Results
edit| Party | Votes | % | Swing | Seats[a] | Change | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independents | 687,863 | 32.26 | 241 | ||||
| Labor | 535,852 | 25.62 | 105 | ||||
| Liberal | 533,377 | 25.50 | 96 | ||||
| Greens | 180,532 | 8.63 | 31 | ||||
| Your Northern Beaches | 40,828 | 1.95 | +1.95 | 6 |  6
| ||
| Our Local Community | 36,250 | 1.73 | +1.73 | 4 | 4
| ||
| Local Independent Party | 13,631 | 0.65 | 0 |  2
| |||
| Good For Manly | 8,045 | 0.65 | +0.65 | 1 | 1
| ||
| Residents First Woollahra | 7,150 | 0.34 | +0.12 | 5 | 
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| Christian Democrats | 6,770 | 0.32 | 0 |
| |||
| Serving Mosman | 5,402 | 0.26 | +0.14 | 3 |
| ||
| Liberal Democrats | 4,177 | 0.20 | 1 |
| |||
| Residents For Mosman | 4,175 | 0.20 | +0.11 | 2 | 1
| ||
| Lorraine Wearne | 4,055 | 0.19 | –0.04 | 1 | 1
| ||
| Shooters, Fishers and Farmers | 3,821 | 0.18 | 2 | ||||
| Independent Community Voice | 3,575 | 0.17 | 1 | 1
| |||
| Kogarah Residents | 3,384 | 0.16 | +0.16 | 1 | 1
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| Independent One Nation | 3,343 | 0.16 | +0.16 | 1 | 1
| ||
| Independent Christian Democrats | 3,298 | 0.16 | +0.16 | 1 | 1
| ||
| Australia First | 3,279 | 0.16 | 0 |
| |||
| Residents Action Group | 3,158 | 0.15 | 0 | 2
| |||
| Ben Shields Team | 2,650 | 0.13 | +0.13 | 1 | 1
| ||
| Communist | 1,595 | 0.07 | +0.00 | 0 | 1
| ||
| Strathfield Independents | 1,467 | 0.07 | +0.07 | 1 | 1
| ||
| Animal Justice | 804 | 0.04 | 0 |
| |||
| Socialist Alliance | 407 | 0.02 | 0 |
| |||
| Independent Greens | 236 | 0.01 | +0.01 | 0 |
| ||
| Total | 2,091,126 | 100.00 | – | – | – | ||
| Registered voters / turnout | 2,730,000 | 76.60 | – | – | |||
Council totals
edit| Council | Seats[7] | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal | Labor | Greens | Independent | Others | |
| Armidale | Did not contest | 1 | 1 | 9 | Did not contest |
| Bathurst | Did not contest | Did not contest | 1 | 8 | Did not contest |
| Bayside | 5 | 7 | 0 | 3 | Did not contest |
| Blayney | Did not contest | 1 | 0 | 6 | Did not contest |
| Burwood | 2 | 4 | Did not contest | 1 | Did not contest |
| Cabonne | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 12 | Did not contest |
| Canada Bay | 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 | Did not contest |
| Canterbury-Bankstown | 5 | 9 | 1 | 0 | Did not contest |
| Central Coast | 4 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Cootamundra-Gundagai | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 9 | Did not contest |
| Cumberland | 5 | 8 | 0 | 2 | Did not contest |
| Dubbo | Did not contest | 1 | Did not contest | 9 | Did not contest |
| Dungog | Did not contest | 1 | Did not contest | 8 | 0 |
| Edward River | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 9 | Did not contest |
| Federation | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 9 | Did not contest |
| Georges River | 5 | 6 | Did not contest | 4 | Did not contest |
| Hilltops | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 11 | Did not contest |
| Hornsby | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | Did not contest |
| Hunter's Hill | 2 | Did not contest | Did not contest | 5 | Did not contest |
| Inner West | 2 | 5 | 5 | 3 | Did not contest |
| Ku-ring-gai | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 9 | 1[b] |
| Lane Cove | 3 | 1 | Did not contest | 5 | Did not contest |
| Maitland | 4 | 5 | 0 | 4 | Did not contest |
| Mid-Coast | 1 | 2 | Did not contest | 8 | Did not contest |
| Mosman | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 7 | Did not contest |
| Murray River | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 9 | Did not contest |
| Murrumbidgee | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 9 | Did not contest |
| Newcastle | 1 | 7 | 1 | 4 | Did not contest |
| North Sydney | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 9 | 1[c] |
| Northern Beaches | 5 | 0 | 2 | 8 | Did not contest |
| Oberon | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 9 | Did not contest |
| Orange | Did not contest | Did not contest | 1 | 8 | 2[d] |
| Parramatta | 6 | 5 | 1 | 3 | Did not contest |
| Port Stephens | Did not contest | 1 | Did not contest | 9 | Did not contest |
| Queanbeyan-Palerang | 1 | 2 | 1 | 7 | Did not contest |
| Randwick | 4 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Ryde | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | Did not contest |
| Shellharbour | 1 | 3 | Did not contest | 3 | Did not contest |
| Snowy Monaro | Did not contest | Did not contest | 1 | 10 | Did not contest |
| Snowy Valleys | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 9 | Did not contest |
| Strathfield | 3 | 2 | Did not contest | 2 | Did not contest |
| The Hills | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Waverley | 5 | 4 | 3 | 0 | Did not contest |
| Willoughby | Did not contest | Did not contest | 1 | 12 | Did not contest |
| Wollongong | 3 | 6 | 2 | 2 | Did not contest |
| Woollahra | 8 | 0 | 2 | 5 | Did not contest |
Referendums and polls
editIn addition to the local elections, four LGAs held referendums on questions relating to electoral structures. Advisory polls were also held in Cumberland and Dungog.
Referendums
edit| LGA | Question | YES | NO | Turnout | Ref | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | Votes | % | Total formal | % | |||
| Cabonne | "Do you favour reducing councillor numbers from twelve (12) to nine (9)?" | 4,897 | 60.9 | 3,149 | 39.1 | 8,046 | 84.6 | [10] |
| 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 | 71.9 | 1,547 | 28.1 | 5,504 | 87.4 | [11] |
| "Do you approve of the abolition of wards?" | 2,302 | 45.9 | 2,712 | 54.1 | 5,014 | 87.4 | ||
| North Sydney | "Do you favour election of the Mayor by Councillors for a term of two years?" | 17,271 | 52.4 | 15,671 | 47.6 | 32,942 | 72.6 | [12] |
| 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 | 70.1 | 11,586 | 29.9 | 38,797 | 84.1 | [13] |
| "Currently the City of Shellharbour Local Government Area has no Ward structure. Do you favour the City of Shellharbour Local Government Area being comprised of Wards?" | 18,038 | 50.3 | 17,792 | 49.7 | 35,830 | 84.1 | ||
Polls
edit| LGA | Question | YES | NO | Turnout | Ref | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 74.8 | 22,137 | 25.2 | 87,882 | 76.5 | [14] |
| Dungog | "Do you want Dungog Shire Council to remain a stand alone Council?" | 2,492 | 47.1 | 2,795 | 52.9 | 5,287 | 87.4 | [11] |
| "Do you want Dungog Shire Council to begin merger discussions with Maitland City Council?" | 1,152 | 23.2 | 3,821 | 76.8 | 4,973 | 87.5 | ||
| "Do you want Dungog Shire Council to begin merger discussions with Port Stephens Council?" | 2,908 | 55.4 | 2,339 | 44.6 | 5,247 | 87.4 | ||
| "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?" | 1,443 | 29.4 | 3,469 | 70.6 | 4,912 | 87.4 | ||
Aftermath
editParty defections
editIn 2019, Labor Cumberland councillor Steve Christou defected to Our Local Community, as did directly-elected Canada Bay mayor Angelo Tsirekas in 2021.[15][16] OLC councillor Andrew Wilson joined The Small Business Party in 2021.[17]
By-elections
editThe New South Wales Electoral Commission held a number of by-elections to fill vacancies on councils following the 2017 elections up until 2021.[18]
The Central Coast Council was suspended before two by-elections in 2020 could be held.
| Council | Ward | Before | Change | Result after preference distribution | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Councillor | Party | Cause | Date | Date | Party | Candidate | % | ||||||
| Murrumbidgee | East | 10 March 2018 | Independent | Pat Brown | 52.47 | ||||||||
| Independent | Shane Fraser | 47.53 | |||||||||||
| The Hills | West | 28 July 2018 | Liberal | Jacob Jackson | 69.01 | ||||||||
| Labor | Immanuel Selvaraj | 30.99 | |||||||||||
| Ku-ring-gai | St Ives | David Citer | Independent Liberal | Resignation | 2 August 2018 | 27 October 2018 | Ind. Liberal | Christine Kay | 53.92 | ||||
| Independent | Nicholas Bakker | 46.08 | |||||||||||
| Wollongong | Ward 3 | 24 November 2018 | Labor | Ann Martin | 58.36 | ||||||||
| Independent | Ami Beck[e] | 21.67 | |||||||||||
| Wollongong | Ward 3 | Vicky King | Labor | Death | 25 February 2020 | No by-election held due to COVID-19 pandemic | |||||||
| Central Coast | Gosford East | Rebecca Gale | Liberal | Resignation | 26 October 2020 | Council suspended before countback | |||||||
| Central Coast | Gosford West | Troy Marquart | Liberal | Resignation | 26 October 2020 | Council suspended before countback | |||||||
Notes
edit- ^ a b c d e f g This does not include seats in 79 LGAs that were won in 2016 but not up for re-election until the 2021 local elections.
- ^ Independent One Nation/Independent Greens ticket.[8][9]
- ^ One Liberal Democrat
- ^ Two Shooters, Fishers, Farmers Party members.
- ^ Second-placed out of three candidate after initial preference distribution.
References
edit- ^ "Results by Local Government Area". New South Wales Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 28 December 2023.
- ^ "2017 NSW Local Government Elections". ABC News. Archived from the original on 28 December 2023.
- ^ "Introduction". Stronger Councils. Government of New South Wales. 12 May 2016. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
- ^ "New councils for NSW". Family & Community Services (Press release). Government of New South Wales. 12 May 2016. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
- ^ "Local Government (Council Amalgamations) Proclamation 2016" (PDF). Stronger Councils. Government of New South Wales. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
- ^ "Local government register of political parties". New South Wales Electoral Commission.
- ^ "2021 NSW Local Government Elections". Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
- ^ "Ku-ring-gai". ABC News.
- ^ "The gloves are off for Ku-ring-gai Council candidates as the elections nears". The Daily Telegraph.
- ^ "Cabonne". ABC News.
- ^ a b "Dungog". ABC News.
- ^ "North Sydney". ABC News.
- ^ "City of Shellharbour". ABC News. 4 December 2021. Archived from the original on 6 May 2024. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
- ^ "Cumberland". ABC News.
- ^ "Cumberland Council new mayor Steve Christou quits Labor Party". The Daily Telegraph.
- ^ "Canada Bay". ABC News.
- ^ "NSW council elections – who is running, and how many?". The Tally Room. 8 November 2021.
- ^ "Local government election results". New South Wales Electoral Commission.