Capes leaders not keen on four-yearly election proposal raised by Local Government Minister Hannah Beazley

The region’s two top local government leaders have voiced concerns around any prospect of moving to four-yearly elections for councillors. City of Busselton mayor Phill Cronin and Shire of Augusta-Margaret River president Julia Meldrum were lukewarm on last week’s news that Local Government Minister was weighing up further tinkering of the sector focused on term lengths and the election cycle. The West Australian reported concerns about voter fatigue and chronically low participation rates were driving Minister Hannah Beazley to consider the overhaul which was unlikely to come into effect before 2027 and required further Parliamentary approvals. “Voter fatigue is something I’m really aware of,” Ms Beazley said. “It’s brought up with me by both local councils, but also residents all the time. “If we look at this year, West Australians (are) voting in a State election, a Federal election and a local government election, so I am worried about the turnout in October, because people have already voted twice this year.” Mr Cronin and Ms Meldrum had overseen council position papers on local government reform during the past year. “The City of Busselton council last considered terms of office in October 2024 and supported holding elections every two years — four-year terms with a two-year spill — enabling the council to retain organisational knowledge across election cycles,” Mr Cronin told the Times. Ms Meldrum said she was not aware of any formal position change or proposal. “The concept has been raised previously and could potentially offer administrative and cost efficiencies,” she said. But any further changes required “robust investigation” as well as “genuine consultation with local governments to fully explore the pros and cons”, the president said. At present, council elections are split, with half of the positions up for voting every two years, with every four years lining up with a State election. Amid the reforms made during Labor’s previous term, mayoral and shire presidencies were now up to the direct vote of electors rather than decided once the new councillors were installed. The Minister also indicated further changes could improve the quality of candidates seeking local government election and increase accountability as well. The mooted change would also avoid clashes with State elections and cut costs for ratepayers funding the polls. “I’m at the very earliest stages of the conversation,” Ms Beazley told the West. Other reforms had introduced a new inspector of local government to monitor and intervene in administrations losing track of what was important.