Big electoral change for councils

About half of the state’s local governments will either lose councillors, move to direct mayoral elections or abolish wards as a result of sweeping overhauls to the sector.

Business News has extensively reported on changes to the Local Government Act pursued by John Carey, including the introduction of optional preferential voting and other changes to the electoral process for council races.

Further details have now been released, with 48 local governments to lose councillors as a result of the changes.

A further 22 will now elect mayor or president directly and 11 will no longer have wards.

Several councils in Perth's western suburbs, including Nedlands, Claremont and Cottesloe, will be affected by at least some of these changes.

Mr Carey has written to every council informing them of the changes, which will be effective as of next year’s election cycle.

Councils that do not voluntarily adopt the changes can be declared vacant and new elections held.

“These reforms will deliver massive benefits and provide greater outcomes for residents and ratepayers,” Mr Carey said.

“Our reform agenda is clear, we are strengthening the transparency, accountability and efficiency of local governments, and this set of electoral reforms will enable stronger local democracy and community engagement.”

More to come.