Shire of Narrogin chief says losing two councillors in local government reforms an ‘erosion of democracy’

Shire of Narrogin chief executive Dale Stewart says being forced to lose two councillors would be an “erosion of democracy” after the council unanimously rejected reforms that would cost it two elected members. The reforms, led by Local Government Minister John Carey, will restrict the number of councillors a local government can elect based on population, and introduce optional preferential voting for all council elections. Local governments with a population of up to 5000 residents — which includes Narrogin — will need to reduce their elected members to a maximum of seven including the shire president. The Shire of Narrogin had a population of 4779 at the 2021 census, down from 5162 in 2016, and will be required to drop at least two councillors under the reforms. WA’s 138 local governments were required to indicate how they were planning to implement the reforms — either through a voluntary pathway or a reform election pathway — by the end of October. The Amendment Act is expected to be introduced to Parliament in early 2023, paving the way for all council seats to be declared vacant at the October 2023 ordinary elections through a reform election pathway. At last week’s meeting, Shire of Narrogin councillors unanimously voted to advise Mr Carey that the Shire did not support his request for a reduction in councillors from nine to seven. The officer report, written by Mr Stewart, called the move “a direct erosion of democracy”. The council also voted to advise Mr Carey that it did not agree to undertake a ward review because it had no wards. “To take such a proposition (ward review) to the community, would in the opinion of the council, make a mockery of the process, and undermine the principles of good government and democracy at the grassroots level,” the council resolution said. Councillors also voted to recommend that the minister lower the population threshold from 5000 to 2000 for local governments with nine councillors. The council argued cutting councillor numbers for shires with 2000-5000 people would “place an unfair additional burden on the remaining elected members, which in turn would lead to increased cost because elected members would tend towards needing to devote more time to council business”. Mr Stewart’s report to council listed several reasons for not voluntarily enacting the reforms, such as the Shire having a population being on the cusp of 5000. He said there were “inconsistencies” between the 2021 census data and the other data sources. “While there was one more occupied dwelling in 2016 compared to 2021, the census recorded a decrease of 366 people over the same period,” his report said. “In addition, the Shire’s rates data indicated there had been an increase in total rateable properties and GRV properties over the same period. These increases could be taken as an indication of population growth. “Also, a decrease of 100 people in the Indigenous population between 2016 and 2021 is surprising given that student enrolments remained virtually the same. “This could mean that the 2021 census Indigenous count was out by a large degree and that the Indigenous population of the Shire is much more than indicated in the census.” Mr Stewart said the Shire was working with the WA Local Government Association and Regional Development Australia Wheatbelt to gather more information from the Australian Bureau of Statistics about the latest census. “Critically, the 2016 census records 2297 private dwellings and the 2021 census recorded 2180 private dwellings — some 117 dwellings down — despite the fact that Shire building permit records recorded a net 50 increase in dwellings over the same period,” Mr Stewart said. The report also cited the town’s upcoming developments, such as the proposed WA-first renewable biodiesel plant, as reasons for the Shire to retain nine councillors. “The Shire is imminently to receive several large development applications, totalling over $300 million investment in infrastructure, with an estimated direct employment impact of plus-80 jobs ongoing and indirect jobs of over 125 ongoing,” he said. “In conclusion, the Shire of Narrogin is a true regional centre, that delivers many projects and facilities that are beyond that of a traditional town or shire local government and it performs a true regional centre task.” In response to the Shire’s stance, Mr Carey said he was committed to “driving and implementing the most significant local government reforms in more than 25 years”. “These reforms will strengthen local democracy and community engagement for residents, ratepayers and local communities,” he said. “It’s no secret — the local government sector is over-governed, with more than 1000 local councillors across the State. “The reduction in the number of councillors will save ratepayers money, provide greater standardisation and greater efficiency. “Under the reform election pathway new elections will then be held to fill all council offices, with a split between two and four-year terms to re-establish an ordinary election cycle.” The southern Wheatbelt shires of Williams, Lake Grace, Kulin and Kondinin will also have to drop at least one elected member under the reforms.