The Victorian Electoral Commission did not “impose nine single member wards, changing the council area from unsubdivided to one councillor in each of the nine newly named electorates”.
This was a change introduced by Victoria’s Local Government Act 2020.
The act introduced several changes to local government representation, including the types of electoral structures local councils may have. Under the act, all metropolitan, interface and regional city councils (including Greater Shepparton City Council) must now have single-councillor ward electoral structures.
The minister may permit a council to have an alternative structure by publishing a notice in the Government Gazette, but an alternative structure was not made available for Greater Shepparton.
In 2022, the minister appointed an electoral representation advisory panel to conduct an electoral structure review of the council. The panel was required to advise the minister on the most appropriate single-councillor ward structure for Greater Shepparton. It looked at the appropriate number of councillors and wards, the location of ward boundaries and appropriate ward names.
The panel was independent of the VEC. Under the act, the VEC is not responsible for reviewing council electoral structures but must provide administrative and technical support to the panel.
Information sessions were held prior to the start of the review in July 2023. Greater Shepparton residents were then able to have their say on the council’s electoral structure via a written submission, followed by attendance at a public hearing if they chose to speak to the panel.
The final report containing the panel’s recommended single-councillor ward structure was then prepared and submitted to the minister, who made the final decision on the structure of the council.
I note the writer also said the “VEC ruling was that if only one candidate was standing unopposed, that person would take a seat at the council table”. This is not a decision we make; it’s required by law.
We worked collaboratively with the council to use all channels available to alert voters about how, when and where to vote. We also informed the community if they wouldn’t be required to vote.
Our democracy is precious, and we are strident in our approach to support every Shepparton voter to actively participate in their democracy.
Sven Bluemmel
Victorian Electoral Commissioner
