An article in The News (June 10) is the third I have read on the local elections and warrants a community response.
Djembe Archibald wrote in an opinion piece (The News, September 20, 2024) that a lack of democracy was applied to the Victorian local government elections in 2024 and subsequent evidence of this was in our Victorian Electoral Commission-imposed nine single member wards — the council area changing from unsubdivided since 2016 to one councillor in each of the nine newly named electorates.
Greater Shepparton City Council objected to this change in July, as Cr Shane Sali told me.
In many previous elections, a VEC representative would place a prior public meeting notice for intending councillors and voters to discuss VEC procedure and practice — not so in 2024.
Much confusion was expressed in letters to the press asking where voters’ wards were and why no ballot papers were sent. As we learned then, the VEC ruling was that if only one candidate was standing unopposed, that person would take a seat at the council table.
With 46,851 people enrolled to vote, each ward held about 5000 eligible voters in each. When Midland Ward candidate Rod Schubert and Poplar Ward candidate Sam Spinks were each unopposed, almost 10,000 people did not have the democratic right to vote.
The second article (The News, March 28, 2025) featured a VEC warning that non voters, more than 5000, could expect a notice and fine. One would presume that the new council would counteract that on behalf of the affected eligible voters.
At the May council meeting, the VEC’s GSCC Local Government Report of the 2024 Election was tabled and received by the councillors, with Cr Anthony Brophy forwarding the motion and Cr Rod Schubert seconding this “drop in voter turnout with five per cent less than at the 2020 election”. It seems that both of them should know better than to thank them for this “incomprehensive report”.
Pat Moran
Community advocate
Shepparton
Morrison does not deserve award
It is the ultimate insult to all those deserving, selfless souls recognised by the King’s Birthday awards, to have their recognition for service to the Australian community devalued by the awarding of the Companion of the Order of Australia to ex-prime minister Scott Morrison.
The man who forgot to order COVID vaccines, fled the country during the bushfire crisis, created Robodebt, secretly swore himself into five ministries along with his contribution to the unaffordable AUKUS pact are all acts of a person totally devoid of the attributes these awards should celebrate.
This decision shows how far removed from most Australians’ lived reality these awards have become.
If Mr Morrison has any ethics he should hand the award back.
Ern Meharry
Shepparton
Ratepayers in for a shock
Home owners across Victoria are in for a rude shock when rates notices arrive in the mailbox.
The reality of the Allan Labor Government’s brazen emergency services tax will hit home — and your budget.
From July 1 every home owner will pay double what they paid under the former fire services property levy.
Local councils in all corners of the state have been up in arms about having to collect this insidious tax increase — and now the City of Yarra, on the fringe of the Melbourne CBD, has joined the chorus of anger.
Quite simply, the government wants councils to do its dirty work, collecting additional tax revenue because Labor can’t manage money.
Don’t blame your local council, blame the gutless government.
This tax affects all Victorians. Whether you’re a farmer, business owner, home owner or renter — you will be forced to pay.
Danny O’Brien
Leader of The Nationals