Electors to vote on referendums and polls
4 September 2008
The NSW Electoral Commission will conduct a series of referendums and polls on behalf of 22 councils during the 2008 local government election period.
“Voting Yes or No in a referendum is compulsory and the result is binding on a council whereas voting in polls is not compulsory and councils can decide if, or when, to act on the poll question,” said NSW Electoral Commissioner Colin Barry.
“For a referendum question to succeed there must be an absolute majority for the Yes case otherwise the question will fail. If the referendum succeeds, the result does not take effect until the next elections in 2012 unless changed by another referendum before then.”
Referendum questions range from reducing the number of councillors to popularly-electing their mayor, abolishing wards or in the City of Sydney’s case, introducing three new wards.
Poll questions range from asking voters whether they are in favour of their local government being proclaimed a city, supporting a climate change levy, including local government in the Australian Constitution to supporting the construction of wind farm turbines.
“Election day is an ideal time for the incoming council to gauge the opinion of their constituents on a whole range of issues that affect them.
“The NSW Electoral Commission has played a key role in making sure the questions are properly drafted to ensure the process is conducted with independence and impartiality, including counting and declaring the results according to the legislation.
“Voters will be handed separate papers for a referendum or poll and should read the instructions carefully before answering Yes or No. If you are not sure what to do then our election officials will be on hand to answer any questions on how to vote.”
Referendum results will be published online at www.elections.nsw.gov.au in the Virtual Tally Room and will be available on election night or the following Monday at the latest.
Poll results will not be counted on election night. They will be available from Monday, 15 September.
A list of referendum and poll questions is attached to this media release.
Councils can be contacted for comment.
Media Contact: Adrian Kerr, NSW Electoral Commission
(02) 9290 5954 adrian.kerr@elections.nsw.gov.au
2008 Referendum Questions
Ballina Shire Council
Question
Currently, Ballina Shire Council has ten councillors (three from each of three wards, plus the mayor).
Do you favour the reduction of councillors to seven (two from each of three wards, plus the mayor)?
Burwood Council
Question
The mayor of Burwood Council is currently elected by the councillors.
Do you favour the election of the mayor by electors for a four year term and without changing the number of councillors from seven, including the mayor?
Cabonne Shire Council
Question 1
Do you favour Cabonne Council abolishing wards where all electors would vote for all councillors?
Question 2
Do you favour reducing councillor numbers from twelve to nine?
Cobar Shire Council
Question
The mayor of Cobar Shire Council is currently elected by the councillors.
Do you favour the election of the mayor by electors for a four year term and without changing the number of councillors from twelve, including the mayor?
Inverell Shire Council
Question
Do you favour the number of Inverell Shire councillors being reduced from twelve to nine?
Kempsey Shire Council
Question
The mayor of Kempsey Shire Council is currently elected by the councillors.
Do you favour the election of the mayor by electors for a four year term and without changing the number of councillors from nine, including the mayor?
Ku-ring-gai Council
Question
The mayor of Ku-ring-gai Council is currently elected by the councillors. Do you approve of the method of electing the mayor of Ku-ring-gai Council being changed to the method of election by the electors, and of the number of councillors on the council being increased to 11?
Lachlan Shire Council
Question
Do you favour a reduction in the number of Lachlan Shire Councillors from fifteen where three are elected from each of five wards, to ten where two are elected from each of five wards?
Manly Council
Question
Manly Council currently has twelve councillors, including the mayor.
Do you favour reducing the number of councillors to nine, including the mayor?
Moree Plains Shire Council
Question
Do you favour the number of Moree Plains Shire councillors being reduced from twelve to nine?
Mosman Municipal Council
Question
The mayor of Mosman Municipal Council is currently elected by the councillors.
Do you favour the election of the mayor by electors for a four year term and without increasing the number of councillors from nine, including the mayor?
Port Stephens Council
Question
The mayor of Port Stephens Council is currently elected by the councillors.
Do you favour the election of the mayor by electors for a four year term and a decrease of the number of councillors from twelve to ten (including the mayor) to enable the election of three councillors from the three wards?
Snowy River Shire Council
Question 1
The mayor of Snowy River is currently elected by the councillors.
Do you approve of the mayor being elected by the electors enrolled in the Snowy River Shire Council area for a four year term?
Question 2
Currently, Snowy River Shire Council has nine councillors, including the mayor.
Do you approve of the number of councillors, including the mayor, in the Snowy River Shire Council being reduced from nine to seven?
Council of the City of Sydney
Question
Currently the City of Sydney is an undivided council with no wards.
Do you agree to the City of Sydney being divided into three wards, with each ward electing three councillors?
Weddin Shire Council
Question
Currently, Weddin Shire Council is divided into five wards.
Do you favour Weddin Shire Council abolishing wards so that all electors would vote for all councillors?
2008 Poll Questions
Auburn Council
Question
Are you in favour of Auburn Local Government Area being proclaimed a City to be known as The City of Auburn?
Kogarah Municipal Council
Question
Do you support the proposal to rename the Kogarah Local Government Area as the City of Kogarah, thereby granting the area City status?
Manly Council
Question
Do you support a 4.4% Climate Change Levy to minimise the impact of climate change on Manly?
Lismore City Council
Question
Do you support the inclusion of local government in the Australian Constitution?
North Sydney Council
Question 1
Do you support the proposal to allow advertising on bus shelters in high-traffic areas only, with the revenue to be reserved for capital projects such as road and footpath renewal, improved sporting facilities and the upgrading of North Sydney's village centres?
Question 2
Do you support the proposal to allow advertising in the North Sydney CBD on public infrastructure such as bus shelters, multi-function poles or free standing advertising panels, with the revenue to be reserved for capital projects such as road and footpath renewal, improved sporting facilities and the upgrading of North Sydney's village centres?
Question 3
The Container Deposit Legislation (CDL) system involves a mandatory deposit to be paid by the consumer on certain nominated containers, for example, glass, aluminium, steel or plastic. Anyone who returns a container to the retailer or to a bottle depot receives a refund of between 5 cents and 20 cents. A similar system currently operates in South Australia.
Do you support the introduction of Container Deposit Legislation in NSW?
Question 4
Should council amend its planning instruments to permit one dedicated car space per unit with at least one bedroom, exclusive of visitor parking, in new residential unit developments?
Question 5
A. Do you support an increase in council's existing Environmental Levy special rate to fund an expansion of initiatives to assist residents, businesses, schools and council to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and respond to the challenges of climate change?
B. Currently the Environmental Levy is based on an average of $34.70 per rateable property per year. In the event that there is support for an increase in the levy, would you support an increase to an average of: i) $50 per year OR ii) $60 per year?
Mid-Western Regional Council
Question 1
Do you favour retention of Mid-Western Regional Council as the name of this council?
Question 2
In the event that retention of Mid-Western Regional Council is not favoured, would you support changing the name of the council to Cudgegong Regional Council? OR
Question 3
In the event that retention of Mid-Western Regional Council is not favoured, would you support changing the name of the council to Mudgee Regional Council?
Wingecarribee Shire Council
Question 1
Do you approve of Council building the Leisure Centre?
Question 2
Do you approve of the construction of the Leisure Centre being funded by the sale of the identified properties?
Upper Lachlan Shire Council
Question
Do you support the continuing development and construction of wind farm turbines in the Upper Lachlan Council area?