Now for the important … LG Periodic Elections

LG Leader March 2018

With the State elections now out of the way, focus is and will continue to shift to the LG Periodic Elections in November this year.

No doubt with all the recent (negative) media coverage on and about councils, what is ordinarily an intriguing and (usually) keenly contestable process, will become even more so this year. This is, in our view, being demonstrated by the number of requests we have already received for individual ‘candidate briefings’ and ‘caretaker refresher training’.

Accordingly, it is important to ensure that our readers are aware of the key dates this year for the LG elections and so we draw to your attention the following –

• The Voters Roll closes at 5pm on Friday 10 August
• Nominations open Tuesday 4 September
• Nominations close midday Tuesday 18 September
• Candidate ballot paper position draw is 4pm on Tuesday 18 September
• The ‘caretaker period’ commences 18 September – or an earlier date if that has been specified by a council
• Voting closes 5pm Friday 9 November
• The scrutiny and count commence 9am Saturday 10 November

Otherwise, mark your diaries for the traditional ‘KelledyJones Elections Breakfast’ at the Wine Centre on Friday 3 August when you will be able to hear from and ask questions of experts in the field including the ECSA, Mick Sherry, the Ombudsman, Wayne Lines, experienced regional and metro Mayors and, of course, legal experts.