Local Government Act 2020

Local Government Act 2020
Parliament of Victoria
  • An Act to reform the law relating to local government in Victoria, to repeal the City of Greater Geelong Act 1993, to amend the City of Melbourne Act 2001, the Local Government Act 1989, the Victoria Grants Commission Act 1976 and the Victorian Independent Remuneration Tribunal and Improving Parliamentary Standards Act 2019, and to consequentially amend certain other Acts and for other purposes
CitationNo. 9 of 2020
Territorial extentVictoria
Passed byLegislative Assembly
Passed17 March 2020
Passed byLegislative Council
Passed5 March 2020
Royal assent24 March 2020
Commenced6 April 2020
EffectiveVarious
Legislative history
First chamber: Legislative Assembly
Bill titleLocal Government Bill 2019
Introduced byMarlene Kairouz
Introduced13 November 2019
First reading13 November 2019
Second reading14–28 November 2019
Consideration in detail28 November 2019
Third reading28 November 2019
Second chamber: Legislative Council
Bill titleLocal Government Bill 2019
Received from the Legislative Assembly28 November 2019
Member(s) in chargeAdem Somyurek
First reading28 November 2019
Second reading28 November 2019 – 3 March 2020
Committee of the whole3–5 March 2020
Third reading5 March 2020
Final stages
Legislative Council amendments considered by the Legislative Assembly17 March 2020
Finally passed both chambers17 March 2020
Amends
No. 5 of 2001, No. 11 of 1989, No. 8887 of 1976, No. 68 of 2000, No. 5 of 2019, No. 62 of 2001, No. 115 of 1994, etc.
Repeals
No. 16 of 1993, No. 65 of 2009, No. 14 of 2016, No. 53 of 2013
Status: In force (amended)

The Local Government Act 2020 was a significant statute in Victoria, Australia, notable for its impact on the electoral systems of local councils in Victoria.[1] The Act, which the Victorian Government described as the "most ambitious and comprehensive reform of local government in Victoria for 30 years," will see a large number of multi-member wards replaced with single-member wards.[1][2]

Reviews were undertaken for the number of councillors, number of councillors per ward and the exact boundaries of those wards for 39 of Victoria's 79 councils.[2]

The Act was introduced on 17 June 2019 by the then-Minister for Local Government, Adem Somyurek.[3] It passed parliament on 17 March 2020, and received Royal Assent days later on 24 March.[1][4]

The Act has been criticised for its removal of proportional representation for most councils, and the consequential likely negative impact on the ability for women and minority groups to be elected.[5]

Councils affected

All metropolitan councils with multi-member wards were affected by the changes. Rural councils have the options of being unsubdivided, or having equal-sized multi-member wards.[5] The City of Melbourne, which is unsubdivided and does not have wards, was not impacted.[2]

Although most changes are set to come into effect before the 2024 local elections, eight councils moved to single-member wards ahead of the 2020 local elections:[6]

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

References

  1. ^ a b c "Local Government Act 2020". Local Government Victoria.
  2. ^ a b c Raue, Ben. "Victorian council ward reviews eradicating PR in Melbourne". The Tally Room.
  3. ^ "Delivering A New Local Government Act For Victoria". Premier of Victoria.
  4. ^ "Ratepayers want 'urgent structural overhaul' of councils". Herald Sun.
  5. ^ a b "Victorian local government review prompts concerns about female representation". ABC News.
  6. ^ a b "Electoral structure changes for 2020". Department of Government Services.