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Electoral review of Melbourne City Council

Friday, 27 May 2011

Minister for Local Government Jeanette Powell has accepted a request from the Melbourne City Council (MCC) for the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) to conduct a review of the Council's electoral structure.

Lord Mayor Robert Doyle wrote to the Minister requesting a review of the Council's electoral structure after a motion was passed by the MCC.

"Following a request from the MCC and given that the Council's electoral arrangements have not been reviewed since 2001 it is appropriate that a review be conducted," Mrs Powell said.

"In the time since the last electoral review of the MCC was undertaken there have been substantial changes to the municipality with the incorporation of Docklands and parts of Kensington into the City.

"The Coalition Government is committed to the maintenance of the most appropriate democratic electoral arrangements for Victorian councils.

"The electoral review will assess whether the current number of councillors serves the democratic needs of the City of Melbourne and whether it should remain un-subdivided or be subdivided into wards.

"Ensuring the most appropriate democratic arrangements are in place requires the MCC be subject to the same scrutiny as other councils," Mrs Powell said.

Lord Mayor Robert Doyle welcomed the Minister's response to the Council's request.

Any changes to MCC's electoral structure would require an amendment to the City of Melbourne Act by the Victorian Parliament.

The MCC requested that other matters including governance processes and voting systems be considered by the VEC. Those matters are outside the scope of a VEC electoral structure review but remain under consideration by the Minister.

The review will be completed by March 2012.

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