2024 Victorian local elections

Local government elections in Victoria, Australia

2024 Victorian local elections

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| <- 2020 | October 2024 | 2028 ->

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78 of the 79 local government areas in Victoria
|  | First party  | Second party  | Third party

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IND

|  |
Party  | Independents | Labor | Liberal
Last election  | 445 seats  | 67 seats  | 50 seats
Seats before  | 445  | 66  | 50

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| Fourth party  | Fifth party  | Sixth party
|  |

AJP

Party  | Greens | Libertarian | Animal Justice
Last election  | 36 seats  | 2 seats  | 2 seats
Seats before  | 28  | 2  | 1

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| Seventh party  | Eighth party  | Ninth party

FUS

Party  | Socialist Alliance | Socialists | Fusion
Last election  | 1 seat  | 1 seat  | Did not contest
Seats before  | 2  | 1  | 0

The 2024 Victorian local elections will be held in October 2024 to elect the councils of 78 of the 79 local government areas (LGAs) in Victoria, Australia.[1]

No election will be held for Moira Shire after the council was dismissed in March 2023 and a panel of administrators was appointed.[2] The next election for Moira is scheduled to be held in October 2028.[3][4]

New councillors will be elected in Casey and Whittlesea for the first time since 2016 after the councils were dismissed in February and March 2020 respectively.[5][6]

39 councils are set to be affected as a result of the Local Government Act 2020, which will see a large number of multi-member wards replaced with single-member wards.[7][8] This significantly increases the number of wards but will likely reduce the average number of candidates standing in these wards.[9]

## Background

[edit]

See also: Local Government Act 2020

In February 2022, Labor councillor Milad El-Halabi resigned from Moreland City Council after being charged with conspiracy to cheat and defraud for allegedly tampering with the council elections.[10] He was replaced via countback in March 2022 by Socialist Alliance's Monica Harte.[11]

On 31 March 2023, the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal found that El-Halabi was unduly elected. He has denied all allegations.[12]

### Greens resignations

[edit]

The Greens have had five of its councillors resign from the party since the 2020 elections, and a further four seats have been lost due to resignations and deaths, reducing its total number from 36 to 28 as of July 2024.

James Conlan (Merri-bek) left the party in solidarity with senator Lidia Thorpe, Amanda Stone (Yarra) resigned in February 2023, and Anab Mohamud (Yarra) resigned in February 2024.[13]

In April 2024, both Greens councillors in Monash − Anjalee de Silva and Josh Fergeus − left the party.[14]

## Candidates

[edit]

A total of 2,231 people nominated to contest the elections − 45 more than the amount that contested the 2020 elections.[15] More than 60 candidates were Greek Australians.[16]

### Mandatory candidate training

[edit]

All candidates in Victorian local elections are required to complete mandatory training to "help [candidates] understand the role and responsibilities of being a councillor".[17] This requirement was introduced at the 2020 elections as a result of the Local Government Act 2020, and candidates who do not complete the training are ineligible to nominate.[18] No other state has these requirements for any elections.[19]

Following the close of nominations, the VEC announced that four candidates were "retired" after it was found they had not completed the required training.[20] These candidates were retired prior to ballot papers being printed, and will not appear on any ballots.[20]

However, a further 16 candidates were retired from 30 September 2024 onwards, after ballot papers had been printed.[21][22] This means that while they will remain on the ballot, they are not eligible to serve as a councillor and their votes will be distributed to other candidates according to voters' preferences.[20][23][24]

The retirements have brought the total number of candidates down to 2,211.[25]

## Political parties

[edit]

The Greens endorse all candidates for local elections, while Labor Party members can either by formally endorsed or stand as "non-endorsed, supported candidates" (otherwise referred to as Independent Labor).[26][27][28]

The Liberal Party typically does not endorse candidates, however the party has an endorsed ticket for the Melbourne City Council leadership team (lord mayor and deputy lord mayor) for the first time in party history.[29] Local party branches also often make their own endorsements.[30][31]

The Animal Justice Party, Fusion Party, Libertarian Party, Socialist Alliance and the Victorian Socialists are all endorsing candidates.[32][33]

Analysis from The Age found that 47% of candidates in Greater Melbourne were members of a political party, including both endorsed and non-endorsed candidates.[34]

## Elections timeline

[edit]

Voting takes place throughout October.[35][36]

* 17 September – Candidate nominations close at 12pm
* 7−10 October – VEC to post ballot pack to voters
* 25 October – Completed ballot papers must be sent to VEC before 6pm
* 26 October – Elections day, although no voting takes place on this date and counting will begin
* 15 November – Elections results announced by this date

## Results

[edit]

Main article: Results of the 2024 Victorian local elections

## Party changes before elections

[edit]

A number of councillors joined or left parties before the 2024 elections, including three councillors who joined the Victorians Party before it dissolved in September 2022.[37]

Council | Ward | Councillor | Former party | New party | Date

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|
|
|

Hepburn | Creswick  | Tim Drylie  |  | Independent |  | Greens | Unknown date
Melbourne | Unsubdivided | Jason Chang  |  | Team Arron Wood |  | Independent | 2021
Banyule | Grimshaw | Rick Garotti  |  | Labor |  | Independent | 8 February 2021
Boroondara | Solway | Garry Thompson  |  | Liberal |  | Independent | Mid-2021
Moreland | North-West | Oscar Yildiz  |  | Independent |  | Victorians | 26 November 2021
Moreland | North-West | Milad El-Halabi |  | Labor |  | Independent Labor | 10 February 2022
Swan Hill | Central | Stuart King  |  | Independent |  | United Australia | 18 February 2022
Melbourne | Unsubdivided | Philip Le Liu  |  | Bring Back Melbourne |  | Victorians | 24 June 2022
Moreland | North-East | Helen Pavlidis-Mihalakos  |  | Independent |  | Victorians | 24 June 2022
Melbourne | Unsubdivided | Philip Le Liu  |  | Victorians |  | Bring Back Melbourne | 15 September 2022
Moreland | North-West | Oscar Yildiz  |  | Victorians |  | Independent | 15 September 2022
Moreland | North-East | Helen Pavlidis-Mihalakos  |  | Victorians |  | Independent | 15 September 2022
Yarra | Nicholls | Amanda Stone  |  | Greens |  | Independent | 6 February 2023
Merri-bek | South | James Conlan  |  | Greens |  | Independent | 7 February 2023
Stonnington | East | Joe Gianfriddo  |  | Angry Victorians |  | Independent | 29 June 2023
Colac Otway | Unsubdivided | Tosh-Jake Finnigan  |  | Sack Dan Andrews |  | Independent | 22 December 2023
Yarra | Langridge | Stephen Jolly |  | Independent Socialist |  | Yarra for All  | February 2024
Yarra | Langridge | Michael Glynatsis  |  | Independent |  | Yarra for All  | February 2024
Yarra | Nicholls | Bridgid O'Brien  |  | Independent Socialist |  | Yarra for All  | February 2024
Yarra | Langridge | Anab Mohamud  |  | Greens |  | Independent | 27 February 2024
Monash | Mount Waverley | Anjalee de Silva  |  | Greens |  | Independent | 8 April 2024
Monash | Oakleigh | Josh Fergeus  |  | Greens |  | Independent | 8 April 2024

## See also

[edit]

* 2024 Melbourne City Council election

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "2024 local council elections". Victorian Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 9 July 2024. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
2. ^ "'Extraordinary' step to sack Moira Shire Council 'not taken lightly', says Victorian government minister". ABC News. 8 March 2023. Archived from the original on 6 July 2024. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
3. ^ "Council elections". Moira Shire. Archived from the original on 21 April 2024. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
4. ^ "Moira Shire Council". Victorian Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 25 March 2024. Retrieved 9 July 2024. "This council was dismissed by an Act of Parliament in March 2023. The next election will be in October 2028."
5. ^ "Casey City Council". Victorian Electoral Commission.
6. ^ "Parliament dismisses the Council". City of Whittlesea. 19 March 2020. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
7. ^ "Local Government Act 2020". Local Government Victoria. 8 May 2023.
8. ^ Raue, Ben (26 May 2023). "Victorian council ward reviews eradicating PR in Melbourne". The Tally Room.
9. ^ Page, G (2022), Inquiry into the 2022 federal election, Submission 331, https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Joint/Electoral_Matters/2022federalelection/Submissions
10. ^ "Councillor resigns following electoral fraud charges as VCAT mulls fresh election". The Age. 10 February 2022.
11. ^ "Second socialist elected in Moreland, after Labor property developer steps down". Green Left. 23 March 2022.
12. ^ Morgan, Cassandra (31 March 2023). "Votes tampered with in Melbourne council poll: tribunal". The West Australian.
13. ^ Waters, Cara (7 February 2023). "Merri-bek councillor resigns from Greens in solidarity with Lidia Thorpe". The Age.
14. ^ "Greens councillors tear up membership, slam leadership over 'surveillance, disinformation, fear'". The Age. 30 April 2024.
15. ^ "Nominations are in for October local council elections". Victorian Electoral Commission. 18 September 2024. Archived from the original on 1 October 2024. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
16. ^ "Greek Australians step up for local council elections in Victoria". Neos Kosmos. 18 September 2024. Archived from the original on 8 October 2024. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
17. ^ "Candidate Training". Local Government Victoria. Archived from the original on 1 October 2024. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
18. ^ "Local Government Candidate Training – Information for Candidates" (PDF). Local Government Victoria. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 October 2024. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
19. ^ "Mandatory Candidate Training Review". Local Government Inspectorate. 11 April 2024. Archived from the original on 1 October 2024. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
20. ^ a b c "VEC retires 16 local council election candidates". Victorian Electoral Commission. 30 September 2024. Archived from the original on 1 October 2024. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
21. ^ "VEC retires 16 local council election candidates". Victorian Electoral Commission. 30 September 2024. Archived from the original on 1 October 2024. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
22. ^ "Retired candidates". Victorian Electoral Commission. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
23. ^ Johnston, Andrew (1 October 2024). "Council nominee retired by VEC". K ROCK 95.5. Archived from the original on 1 October 2024. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
24. ^ "16 council candidates retired over training failure". Inside Local Government. 30 September 2024. Archived from the original on 1 October 2024. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
25. ^ "VEC retires candidates". Star Weekly. 1 October 2024. Archived from the original on 1 October 2024. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
26. ^ "Local Council Representatives". The Greens.
27. ^ "Australian Labor Party Victorian Branch Rules" (PDF). Victorian Labor Party. 14 September 2020. p. 56\. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 March 2022. Retrieved 9 September 2024. "Obligations of Non Endorsed Supported Candidates"
28. ^ Raue, Ben. "Monash council election, 2024". The Tally Room. Archived from the original on 9 September 2024. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
29. ^ Placella, Laura; Douglas, Carly (21 July 2024). "Liberal Party to endorse Melbourne lord mayor for first time in history". Herald Sun. Archived from the original on 29 July 2024. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
30. ^ "Labor distances itself from 'Islamophobic' Darebin council candidate". The Age. 8 October 2020.
31. ^ "Boroondara City Council – Burwood Liberals". Retrieved 11 November 2020.
32. ^ "Owen Miller for Bulleke-bek". Fusion Party. Archived from the original on 17 September 2024. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
33. ^ "Our council candidates". Victorian Socialists. Archived from the original on 18 September 2024. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
34. ^ "Many of your local election candidates appear to be independent. Our survey reveals otherwise". The Age. 3 October 2024. Archived from the original on 3 October 2024. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
35. ^ "Key dates for the Melbourne City Council 2024 elections". Melbourne City Council. Archived from the original on 2 October 2024. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
36. ^ "Council elections 2024". Cardinia Shire Council. Archived from the original on 2 October 2024. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
37. ^ "Victorians Party announce abrupt exit from state election race, citing finance difficulties". Herald Sun.

* v
* t
* e

(2020 ←)  2024 Victorian local elections (→ 2028)

Results|

| Overall|

* Barwon South West
* Eastern Melbourne
* Gippsland
* Grampians
* Hume
* Inner Melbourne
* Loddon Mallee
* Northern Melbourne
* South-Eastern Melbourne
* Western Melbourne

|

LGAs|

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