Bid to block PCC vote counters

PERTH City councillors do not want council staff counting votes for next year’s local government elections.

Councillors Laurance Goodman and Bert Tudori were behind the recommendation to stop council staff taking part in the vote count, blocking a request from the commission.

Lord Mayor Peter Nattrass said anyone who thought council staff would misrepresent the vote had to be paranoid.

Dr Nattrass said some council staff sought the job because it gave them some extra “pocket money”.

“If we exclude staff there will be objections from various quarters. I think this is an adverse reflection on our staff,” he said.

Council cannot tell the electoral commission to exclude council staff from counting positions, nor instruct its staff to not seek the work.

The commission usually seeks council staff because of their experience.