The Real Agenda Behind The Referendum Question
Greens candidate for Ballina Council Jeff Johnson has warned that the
referendum for a change to 2 person wards will greatly increase the risk of
corruption.
The problem with the counting system in 2 Councillor Wards is that all of
the winning candidate’s votes are redistributed to their second preference.
‘This creates a system where an unpopular candidate, who gets the second preference of the winner, will probably get elected, even if they only receive a hand full of primary votes.’
"The electoral system for two person wards is fundamentally undemocratic. It's virtually a winner take all system that allows a small group to become entrenched in power."
"There are only 11 councils in the state with 2 person wards. It is significant that two of them, Wollongong and Shellharbour, were dismissed recently for entrenched corruption and maladministration.
"Why would Ballina want to go down such a discredited road?"
"The optional preferential system makes sense only where there is a single candidate to be elected. The 2004 result in Shellharbour's Ward B, where a group won both of the available positions, despite more than seven out of every ten voters giving their first preference to
someone else, illustrates the perverse and undemocratic outcomes that result from using a preferential system in a multi-member electorate." Ms Hale, member of the NSW Legislative Council told Parliament.
Jeff Johnson is urging all Ballina votes to vote No in the referendum. Not only does it restrict the number of Councillors representing the community, the counting system is undemocratic. The current system in place provides a much truer reflection of the way the community votes.
Further information: Jeff Johnson (0428148863)
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