Media Release – State Budget Must Take Priority – Don’t Bulldoze Local Government Reforms

Independent Member for Nelson Meg Webb today called on the Rockliff Liberal Government to consider additional parliamentary sitting days after State Budget scrutiny to then debate proposed local government election reforms.

“It is established practice for the State Budget process to take precedence over any other parliamentary business,” Ms Webb said.

“However, Local Government Minister Nic Street has announced his intention to suspend the Budget debate this week to prioritise these proposed changes.

“Tasmanians are facing housing eviction now, people are having to choose between food and heating now, current and future COVID challenges continue to impact the budget bottom line, yet the Government intends to hit pause on this urgent budget debate for non-urgent local government reforms.

“Why?  Why are these local government proposed changes so urgent?”

Ms Webb said she supports the introduction of compulsory voting for local council elections.

“However, the Government has failed to provide a convincing case as to why it is so urgent it needs to be prioritised over the crucial budget scrutiny process.

“I agree it would be logical to introduce compulsory voting in time for the October elections.

“That’s why I am calling on the Government to consider scheduling additional sitting days after the Budget debate process is completed for the Parliament to consider the Local Government Election Bill.

“It is also disingenuous and misleading for the Minister to claim his proposed changes have been broadly discussed and therefore closer examination is unnecessary.

“The proposal to change the voting method is new, was not part of the previous 2013 package of reforms and has not received public debate and scrutiny.”

Ms Webb said it raises serious concerns the previously Liberal-blocked compulsory voting reform is being used as a stalking horse to introduce further changes which may be perceived as providing an electoral advantage to political parties contesting local council elections.

“These potential ramifications to our democracy deserve rigorous debate – not at the expense of the current Budget scrutiny.

“Many Tasmanians voted in the Federal Election for urgent climate change action, integrity and inclusion reforms.

“The Rockliff government should be prioritising the stalled Climate Change Bill and the long-overdue political donations disclosure reforms, while providing proper inclusive consultation on any new proposals impacting our democratic systems, instead of trying to bulldoze them through at the last minute.”

Background: Previous Compulsory Voting Local Government Elections Parliamentary Debate

The Local Government Amendment (Elections) Bill 2013, introduced by Minister Bryan Green MP (Labor), sought to:

• make voting compulsory in all local government elections in Tasmania;
• ban sitting councillors from also being members of parliament; and
• ensure that all councillors from all councils, as well as mayors and deputy mayors, face election at the same time every four years.

No mention of changing the voting method for a valid vote.

• “The state opposition at this point cannot support a bill that sets out to tinker, tamper and corrupt the process of democracy in local government, as this one does.” Rene Hidding MP, Liberal Opposition voting against the Local Government Amendment (Elections) Bill 2013, Tuesday, 16 April 2013.
• “Mr President, the Tasmanian Liberals do not support this bill. We voted against it in the other place and we will be voting against it here, so that makes the position clear.”   Dr Vanessa Goodwin MLC, Upper House debate on the Local Government Amendment (Elections) Bill 2013, Wednesday, 22 May 2013.

The Legislative Council amended the 2013 Bill by striking out compulsory voting measures, but retained provisions to prohibit elected members sitting in more than one tier of government simultaneously, and changes to mayoral elections.

Current Liberal MPs who voted against the 2013 move to introduce compulsory voting in local council elections are: Ms Archer MP, Mr Ferguson MP, Ms Petrusma MP, Mr Rockliff MP, Mr Shelton MP, and Mrs Hiscutt MLC.

Media Contact: A.Mark Thomas, M&M Communications, 0422 006 732