A mayoral candidate for a council involved with a proposed amalgamation in south-east SA has described the potential voting process as “meaningless and undemocratic”.
Key points:
- Despite being in caretaker mode, the District Council of Grant has decided to write to government representatives to express its “extreme concern”
- A bill to issue a plebiscite asking the community about merging Grant with the City of Mount Gambier council will be debated in the SA Upper House this week
- Mayoral candidate Kylie Boston says without proportional voting, the process is “meaningless and undemocratic”
Councillor Kylie Boston, who is running for Mayor of the District Council of Grant, has called a Special Council meeting on Friday afternoon to discuss her “extreme concern” about the process of the plebiscite.
The bill to proceed with the plebiscite is being debated in the South Australian Upper House this week.
If successful, the plebiscite will ask the communities to vote to amalgamate the City of Mount Gambier council and the District Council of Grant.
The ballot paper would be included in the voting packs issued for the local government elections in November.
Proportionate voting vital
The District Council of Grant has agreed to write to government representatives, asking questions around consultation and transparency.
The motion also urged for “a majority vote in each council community” to allow for proportional representation.
The Grant council area has about 8,500 ratepayers, compared with almost 28,000 in Mount Gambier.
Mayoral candidate Kylie Boston said equal and proportionate voting was vital.
“If [the plebiscite] is not able to be stopped, we definitely need to be making sure that we have the majority vote of the separate councils – not together as two councils,” she said.
“Otherwise, our vote’s only worth roughly about a quarter of the City council vote.”
Ms Boston said there were three elements the council wanted clarity on.
“We want to understand what a successful vote means, and then what a successful outcome to the plebiscite [means],” she said.
“We would like to make sure that the consultation happens throughout the whole period, so we actually understand what it is that we’re voting yes or no to.
“Thirdly, that it’s put on public record.”
Community confusion
Ms Boston said it was “really important” that those elements were clear and understood by the whole community.
“I hope that they just listen to our voice,” she said.
“We felt that it was important to be able to give some advocacy back to the people that are voting on the bill in the Upper House.
“I think the more people that have concerns [and say something], then we’ve got more of a chance to have some of these amendments in — if it can’t be stopped.”
‘Public and transparent’
Minister for Local Government Geoff Brock acknowledged the process was “very confusing”.
He said the plebiscite votes would be counted separately from the local government ballots and be made public.
“Everything will be public and transparent,” he said.
“It’s just to get an indication of the feel for the community.
“If the result comes back positive … then that doesn’t automatically mean it’s going to go forward.”
Mr Brock said no-one would be forced into anything.
“I want to reassure the people of Mount Gambier and Grant there is no forced amalgamations,” he said.
“It will be up to the people.
“We’ve got the most democratic way of doing it to look at the potential future next move.
“There is no thought of forcing this to go through if, for argument’s sake, the majority are not in agreeance with it.”
Mr Brock said it would be an extensive process.
“If for argument’s sake, [the plebiscite] comes back negative, everything’s dead and buried,” he said.
“If it comes back positive, then the government will look at it further in detail and analyse it.
“Then we’ll make the decision whether we go forward with the SA Local Government Boundaries Commission and the SA Productivity Commission, or we don’t go any further.
“It’s a long and a very thorough process.”