Statements
Alderman calls for electoral reform before Mayoral free for all.
Alderman Philip Cocker has called on the Minister for Local Government to implement electoral reforms before allowing candidates for Deputy and Mayors of councils to be directly elected with no prior council experience.
If we are to have directly elected Mayors and Deputy Mayors then it is vital that the public know what their base of support is and the source of any financial donations they receive to help them be elected.
Under the current system, the community gets to know their potential Council leaders, their values and support base. Under the model proposed by the Minister and with archaic electoral laws the risk of the Mayor and Deputy positions becoming positions for sale, funded by unknown sources is very high.
As we have seen in other States it is very important that Council Mayors are placed under financial scrutiny and transparency of election expenditure is enforced. We need real time electoral donation information to be available to the public.
Philip Cocker Alderman Hobart City Council