As the dust settles … Melbourne City Council election

The 2024 Melbourne City Council election has provided insights into the workings of the electoral provisions of the City of Melbourne Act and the machinations of candidates jockeying for the positions of Lord Mayor, Deputy Lord Mayor and councillor. 

It became obvious at the beginning of the campaign that the money and preference trails provided the most accessible and informative motivations of the candidates. Polices and priorities for the campaigns often came in a rush and certainly seemed more like thought bubbles designed to attract the attention of the media than respond to the interests and needs of residents and local business.

From unknown campaign donors with their undeclared largesse to preference deals that seemed more opportunistic than principled were just some of the emerging trust issues during the election.

The result was an election that brought daily promises with few costings, band-aids instead of policies, and glass rather than candour. 

In a deluge of promises, with only a few could be seen to be deliverable by the council and that included a free Monday morning coffee and perhaps a rates freeze. The extended free tram zone, turning offices into apartments, removal of bicycle lanes, and the sale of the Regent were either not possible or dependent on the support of the State government and a majority of councillors. 

Lord Mayor candidates claim leadership of a team. The reality is the so-called team is an anachronism given no team has ended up with a majority on council.

Trust in elections and resultant politicians is very much under scrutiny. Independent and authentic candidates are increasingly being supported. 

This election attracted 11 Lord Mayor and Deputy Lord Mayor teams and 58 councillor candidates. We have 90 vying for 11 votes on council. The City of Melbourne Act cries out for review and reform. We need electoral provisions that provide for one vote one value, a return to wards, an end to postal voting and the election of the Lord Mayor by the council.

If we cannot trust the Act, how can we trust the election and the council! •