2024 Victorian local elections
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The 2024 Victorian local elections will be held in October 2024 to elect the councils of the 79 local government areas in Victoria.[1]
Neither the Labor Party nor the Liberal Party typically endorse candidates for local elections in Victoria. However, local party branches often make their own endorsements.[2][3] The Greens do endorse candidates.[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]
Background
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.[9] He was replaced via countback in March 2022 by Socialist Alliance's Monica Harte.[10]
On 31 March 2023, the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal found that El-Halabi was unduly elected. He has denied all allegations.[11]
The Greens have lost three of its councillors through resignation since the 2020 elections. James Conlan (Merri-bek) quit in solidarity with senator Lidia Thorpe, Amanda Stone (Yarra) resigned in February 2023, and Gabrielle de Vietri (Yarra) resigned after winning the seat of Richmond.[12]
Two minor parties, the Angry Victorians Party and Restore Democracy Sack Dan Andrews, gained councillors in 2023 via different countbacks.[13]
Party changes before elections
Nine different councillors joined or left parties before the 2024 elections, including three councillors who joined the Victorians Party before it dissolved in September 2022.[14]
| Council | Ward | Councillor | Former party | New party | Date | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Banyule | Grimshaw | Rick Garotti | Labor | Independent | 8 February 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 | ||
References
- ^ "Local council elections". Victorian Electoral Commission.
- ^ "Labor distances itself from 'Islamophobic' Darebin council candidate". The Age.
- ^ "Boroondara City Council – Burwood Liberals". Retrieved 11 November 2020.
- ^ "Local Council Representatives". The Greens.
- ^ "Casey City Council". Victorian Electoral Commission.
- ^ "Parliament dismisses the Council". City of Whittlesea. 19 March 2020. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
- ^ "Local Government Act 2020". Local Government Victoria.
- ^ Raue, Ben. "Victorian council ward reviews eradicating PR in Melbourne". The Tally Room.
- ^ "Councillor resigns following electoral fraud charges as VCAT mulls fresh election". The Age.
- ^ "Second socialist elected in Moreland, after Labor property developer steps down". Green Left.
- ^ Morgan, Cassandra. "Votes tampered with in Melbourne council poll: tribunal". The West Australian.
- ^ Waters, Cara. "Merri-bek councillor resigns from Greens in solidarity with Lidia Thorpe". The Age.
- ^ Perry, Maggie. "Restore Democracy Sack Dan Andrews Party founder becomes Victoria's first openly trans councillor". 6 News Australia.
- ^ "Victorians Party announce abrupt exit from state election race, citing finance difficulties". Herald Sun.
