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2020 Victorian local elections

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2020 Victorian local elections
← 2016 24 October 2020 2024 →
  First party Second party Third party
 
IND
Leader N/A Daniel Andrews Michael O'Brien
Party Independents Labor Liberal
Seats won 445 67 50
  Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party
 
AJP
VS
Leader Samantha Ratnam No leader No leader
Party Greens Animal Justice Socialists
Last election 29 seats 0 0
Seats before 28 0 0
Seats won 39 2 1
Seat change Increase 10 Increase 2 Increase 1
Results by LGA

The 2020 Victorian local elections were held on 24 October 2020 to elect the councils of 76 of the 79 local government areas in Victoria, Australia.[1] Several councils also held mayoral elections.[1]

Background

The elections were held amid the COVID-19 Pandemic in Australia, with Melbourne still in lockdown at the time of the elections.[2] A survey conducted in April 2020 showed that a significant majority of councils wanted the elections postponed for a year.[3] However, Minister for Local Government Shaun Leane announced on 19 August that the elections would go ahead as scheduled.[4]

Casey City Council was dismissed in February 2020, and no election was conducted.[5]

Eight councils changed their electoral structure ahead of the election, moving to single-member wards as a result of the Local Government Act 2020:[6]

Additionally, Swan Hill and Mansfield moved to an unsubdivided structure.[6]

Political parties

The Liberal Party does not endorse candidates for local elections in Victoria. Labor chose to endorse some candidates, and some local party branches also made their own endorsements.[7][8] Australian Progressives co-founder Peter Wingate contested Yarraville Ward in Maribyrnong as the party's first ever local elections candidate.[9]

Labor endorsed a total of 37 candidates in the following LGAs:

Additionally, the Labor Members for Darebin group endorsed 10 candidates (later disendorsing one). The ALP distanced themselves from the group, saying they did not endorse any candidates in Darebin.[11]

9 other VEC-registered parties endorsed candidates:

Party changes before elections

A number of councillors joined or left parties before the 2020 elections.

Council Ward Councillor Former party New party Date
Yarra Langridge Stephen Jolly   The Socialists   Independent Socialist November 2017
Maribyrnong Stony Creek Catherine Cumming   Independent   Justice 2 February 2018
Yarra Langridge Stephen Jolly   Independent Socialist   Victorian Socialists 5 February 2018
Moreland North-West Oscar Yildiz   Labor   Independent 7 June 2018
Glenelg Unsubdivided Anita Rank   Independent Liberal   Independent National 8 June 2018
Monash Glen Waverley Lynette Saloumi   Independent   Sustainable Australia 2018
Casey Four Oaks Rosalie Crestani   Rise Up Australia   Independent 26 June 2019
Yarra Langridge Stephen Jolly   Victorian Socialists   Independent Socialist 23 September 2019
Yarra Nicholls Bridgid O'Brien   Victorian Socialists   Independent Socialist 23 September 2019
Whittlesea North Emilia Sterjova   Labor   Independent 9 February 2020
Casey Springfield Sam Aziz   Liberal   Independent 16 February 2020

Results

Main article: Results of the 2020 Victorian local elections
Party Votes % Swing Seats Change
  Independents 445
  Labor 67
  Liberal 50
  Greens 39 Increase 10
  Independent National 7
  Animal Justice 2 Increase 2
  Liberal Democrats 2 Increase 1
  Team Sally Capp 24,395 2 Increase 2
  Team Arron Wood 12,187 1 Increase 1
  Banyule Ratepayers Action Group 11,230 0 Steady
  Ratepayers of Port Phillip 8,761 2 Increase 2
  Independent Socialist 7,380 2 Increase 2
  Bring Back Melbourne 6,683 1 Increase 1
  Back To Business 6,572 1 Increase 1
  Sue Bolton Moreland Team 5,062 1 Steady
  Save The Planet 2,934 0 Steady
  Richmond First 1,897 0 Steady
  Morgan-Watts Team 1,541 0 Decrease 1
  Australia First 1,391 0 Steady
  Residents First 1,110 0 Steady
  Innovate Melbourne 817 0 Steady
  Sustainable Australia 810 0 Steady
  Team Hakim 379 1 Increase 1
  Melbourne - We All Matter 374 0 Steady
  Independent Local Voice 351 0 Steady
  Your Melbourne Team Get It Done 291 0 Steady
  It Will Be Okay Melbourne 203 0 Steady
  United People's Party 79 0 Steady
  Put Climate First 1 Increase 1
  Independent Labor 1
  Socialist Alliance 0
  Victorian Socialists 1 Increase 1
  Reason 0 Steady

Aftermath

Further information: 2024 Victorian local elections § Party changes before elections

Yarra City Council was described Australia's "most left-wing local government" with The Greens receiving a majority and two independent socialists, including Stephen Jolly, elected.[12] However, Gabrielle de Vietri resigned after winning the seat of Richmond and was replaced via countback by independent Michael Glynatsis, and Amanda Stone quit the party in February 2023.[13][14]

In November 2021, Moreland councillor Oscar Yildiz was part of the formation of the Victorians Party, a centrist political party which planned to contest the 2022 state election.[15] Along with Yildiz, fellow Moreland councillor Helen Pavlidis-Mihalakos and Melbourne councillor Philip Le Liu joined the party, giving it 3 local government seats.[16] The party disbanded in August 2022, citing financial difficulties.[17]

The United Australia Party gained Victorian local representation in Victoria in May 2022, when Swan Hill councillor Stuart King joined the party to contest Mallee at the federal election.[18]

The City of Moreland was renamed to Merri-bek in September 2022.

On 7 February 2023, Merri-bek councillor James Conlan resigned from The Greens in solidarity with senator Lidia Thorpe, who had also left the party the day before.[19]

Two minor parties, the Angry Victorians Party and Restore Democracy Sack Dan Andrews, gained councillors in 2023 via different countbacks.[20]

Electoral fraud allegations

In February 2022, Labor councillor Milad El-Halabi resigned after being charged with conspiracy to cheat and defraud for allegedly tampering with the council elections in Moreland.[21] He was replaced via countback in March 2022 by Socialist Alliance's Monica Harte.[22]

On 31 March 2023, the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal found that El-Halabi was unduly elected. He has denied all allegations.[23]

By-elections and countbacks

The Victorian Electoral Commission has held a number of by-elections and countbacks to fill vacancies on councils since the 2020 elections.[24][25]

By-elections

Council Ward Before Change Result after preference distribution
Councillor Party Cause Date Date Party Candidate %
Northern Grampians South West N/A N/A No nominations at 2020 election 14 October 2020 4 December 2020 Independent Trevor Gready 55.98
Independent Labor Rosalind Byass 44.02
Hindmarsh East N/A N/A Only 1 nomination for 2 vacancies at 2020 election 21 October 2020 14 December 2020   Independent Wendy Bywaters 52.56
  Independent Christopher Johnson[a] 28.69
Northern Grampians Kara Kara Karen Hyslop Independent Resignation 14 October 2020 1 March 2021   Independent Eddy Ostarcevic 53.16
  Independent Timmy Heydon[a] 23.24
Cardinia Westernport Ray Brown Independent Death 19 March 2021 23 July 2021   Independent Kaye Cameron 60.98
  Independent David Young 39.02
Yarra Ranges Streeton Cathrine Burnett-Wake Liberal Elected to Victorian Parliament 29 November 2021 18 February 2022   Independent Andrew Fullaga 55.04
  Greens Wil Mikelsons 44.96
Maroondah Wonga Nora Lamont Liberal Resignation 7 December 2021 11 March 2022   Independent Linda Hancock 52.19
  Independent Jessica Ness 47.81
Buloke Mallee Robert Priestly Independent Resignation 1 July 2022 28 October 2022   Ind. National Bernadette Hogan 59.38
  Independent Zachary Martin 40.62
Northern Grampians Kara Kara Tony Driscoll Independent Death 1 August 2022 14 November 2022   Independent Karen Hyslop 52.34
  Independent Prue McAllister 47.66
Mornington Peninsula Watson Paul Mercurio Independent Labor Elected to Victorian Parliament 21 December 2022 6 February 2023   Independent Kate Roper 50.72
  Conservative Stefan Borzecki 49.28

Countbacks

Council Ward Before Change After
Councillor Party Cause Date Date Councillor Party
Moira Unsubdivided Andrew Goldman   Independent Death 3 December 2020 11 January 2021 Ed Cox   Independent
Mornington Peninsula Nepean Hugh Fraser   Independent Resignation 9 March 2021 15 April 2021 Susan Bissinger   Independent
Wellington Northern Malcolm Hole   Independent Death 10 April 2021 18 May 2021 Carmel Ripper   Independent
Baw Baw West Ben Lucas   Independent Liberal Resignation 18 June 2021 29 June 2021 Keith Cook   Independent
Strathbogie Lake Nagambie Melanie Likos   Independent Resignation 16 August 2021 16 September 2021 David Andrews   Independent
Moira Unsubdivided Kevin Bourke   Independent Resignation 24 November 2021 15 December 2021 Judy Heather   Independent
Moira Unsubdivided Marie Martin   Independent Resignation 7 December 2021 21 January 2022 John Beitzel   Independent
Alpine Unsubdivided Charlie Vincent   Animal Justice Resignation 23 December 2021 20 January 2022 Simon Kelley   Independent
Mitchell South Christine Banks   Independent Resignation 9 February 2022 11 March 2022 David Lowe   Independent
Moreland North-West Milad El-Halabi   Independent Labor Resignation 10 February 2022 23 March 2022 Monica Harte   Socialist Alliance
Indigo Unsubdivided Jenny O'Connor   Independent Resignation 21 February 2022 11 March 2022 Emmerick Teissl   Independent
Queenscliffe Unsubdivided Susan Salter   Independent Resignation 17 March 2022 13 April 2022 Isabelle Tolhurst   Independent
Mildura Unsubdivided Cyndi Power   Independent Resignation 25 March 2022 21 April 2022 Troy Bailey   Independent
Wodonga Unsubdivided Kat Bennett   Independent Resignation 4 April 2022 27 April 2022 Danny Richard Lowe   Independent
Glen Eira Rosstown Neil Pilling   Independent Resignation 11 April 2022 28 April 2022 Sue Pennicuik   Greens
Greater Shepparton Unsubdivided Robert Priestly   Independent Resignation 15 June 2022 7 July 2022 Dinny Adem   Independent
Horsham Unsubdivided Di Bell   Independent Resignation 12 August 2022 7 September 2022 Robert Redden   Liberal
Wodonga Unsubdivided John Watson   Independent Resignation following cancer diagnosis 8 November 2022 6 December 2022 Danny Chamberlain   Independent Liberal
Moira Unsubdivided John Beitzel   Independent Resignation 17 November 2022 6 December 2022 Scott Olson   Independent
Moira Unsubdivided Libro Mustica   Independent Resignation 17 November 2022 12 December 2022 Wendy Buck   Independent
Yarra Langridge Gabrielle de Vietri   Greens Elected to Victorian Parliament 9 December 2022 19 January 2023 Michael Glynatsis   Independent
Swan Hill Unsubdivided Jade Benham   Independent National Elected to Victorian Parliament 13 December 2022 17 January 2023 Jacquie Kelly   Independent
Brimbank Harvester Trung Luu   Liberal Elected to Victorian Parliament 21 December 2022 24 January 2023 Thomas O'Reilly   Independent
Colac Otway Unsubdivided Joe McCracken   Liberal Elected to Victorian Parliament 21 December 2022 18 January 2023 Tosh-Jake Finnigan   Sack Dan Andrews
Greater Geelong Brownbill Sarah Mansfield   Greens Elected to Victorian Parliament 21 December 2022 23 January 2023 Melissa Cadwell   Independent Labor
Melton Watts Moira Deeming   Liberal Elected to Victorian Parliament 21 December 2022 23 January 2023 Justine Farrugia   Independent
Port Phillip Lake Katherine Copsey   Greens Elected to Victorian Parliament 21 December 2022 17 January 2023 Robbie Nyaguy   Labor
Mornington Peninsula Seawinds Kerri McCafferty   Independent Resignation 21 December 2022 6 February 2023 Simon Brooks   Independent
Stonnington East Alexander Lew   Liberal Resignation 21 December 2022 19 January 2023 Joe Gianfriddo   Angry Victorians
Colac Otway Unsubdivided Jamie Bell   Independent Resignation 7 February 2023 1 March 2023 Max Arnott   Independent
Southern Grampians Unsubdivided Greg McAdam   Independent Resignation 13 April 2023 17 May 2023 Fran Malone   Independent
Baw Baw Central Joe Gauci   Independent Resignation 27 April 2023 17 May 2023 Farhat Firdous   Independent
Queenscliffe Unsubdivided Fleur Hewitt   Independent Resignation 29 May 2023 19 June 2023 Robert Minty   Independent
Greater Geelong Windermere Kylie Grzybek   Independent Resignation 29 May 2023 28 June 2023 Sarah Hathway   Socialist Alliance
Strathbogie Lake Nagambie David Andrews   Independent Resignation 27 June 2023 17 July 2023 Robin Weatherald   United Australia
Glenelg Unsubdivided Anita Rank   Independent National Resignation 30 June 2023 7 August 2023 John Northcott   Independent
Indigo Unsubdivided Larry Goldsworthy   Independent Resignation 3 July 2023 9 August 2023 Sue Gold   Independent
Greater Geelong Bellarine Stephanie Asher   Independent Liberal Resignation 31 July 2023 31 August 2023 Elise Wilkinson   Put Climate First
Bass Coast Western Port Bruce Kent   Independent Resignation 7 August 2023 11 August 2023 Geoff Ellis   Independent

Notes

  1. ^ a b Second-placed on primary vote as the by-election did not require preference distribution.

References

  1. ^ a b "2020 council election results". Victorian Electoral Commission.
  2. ^ "Covid: Melbourne's hard-won success after a marathon lockdown". BBC News.
  3. ^ "Councils want local elections put on ice, say 'pros outweigh the cons'". The Age.
  4. ^ "Local Government Elections To Go Ahead In October". Premier of Victoria.
  5. ^ "Casey City Council". Victorian Electoral Commission.
  6. ^ a b "Electoral structure changes for 2020". Department of Government Services.
  7. ^ "Boroondara City Council". Burwood Liberals. Archived from the original on 11 November 2020. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  8. ^ Mahoney, Gavin. "2020 Victorian Local Government Election Results and Analysis" (PDF). Spence Consulting Group. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 June 2023.
  9. ^ Wingate, Peter. "VOTE FOR ME… I HATE POLITICIANS!". The Westsider.
  10. ^ "Labor Party to endorse Ballarat council candidates". The Courier.
  11. ^ Booker, Chloe. "Labor distances itself from 'Islamophobic' Darebin council candidate". The Age.
  12. ^ "Australia's first Greens-dominated council elected in Yarra". The Age.
  13. ^ "New councillor for Yarra City Council". Victorian Electoral Commission.
  14. ^ Royall, Ian. "Yarra Council former mayor Amanda Stone quits the Greens party". Herald Sun.
  15. ^ Deery, Shannon. "New political party to challenge Labor and Coalition in 2022 Victorian election". Herald Sun.
  16. ^ Rooney, Kieran. "Victorians Party announce first batch of candidates to take on major parties". Herald Sun.
  17. ^ "Victorians Party announce abrupt exit from state election race, citing finance difficulties". Herald Sun.
  18. ^ "Swan Hill councillor Stuart King is Palmer's man for Mallee".
  19. ^ Waters, Cara. "Merri-bek councillor resigns from Greens in solidarity with Lidia Thorpe". The Age.
  20. ^ Perry, Maggie. "Restore Democracy Sack Dan Andrews Party founder becomes Victoria's first openly trans councillor". 6 News Australia.
  21. ^ "Councillor resigns following electoral fraud charges as VCAT mulls fresh election". The Age.
  22. ^ "Second socialist elected in Moreland, after Labor property developer steps down". Green Left.
  23. ^ Morgan, Cassandra. "Votes tampered with in Melbourne council poll: tribunal". The West Australian.
  24. ^ "Media releases". Victorian Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 2021-12-30. Retrieved 2023-06-08.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  25. ^ "Countbacks & By-Elections (Vic)". Local Government News Roundup.
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