The state government has appointed members of two Electoral Representation Advisory Panels to review the electoral structure of Victorian councils.
Local Government Minister Melissa Horne confirmed the appointments with the panels to begin early next year, with the formal process to be completed by early 2024, in time for the local elections.
The Electoral Representation Advisory Panels will conduct a review into the structure of 39 Victorian councils that need to comply with new electoral representation arrangements under the Local Government Act 2020.
The Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) will provide the panels with all technical and administrative support.
Under the act, all councils must have a single-member ward structure unless the government has permitted them to have uniform multi-member wards or an unsubdivided structure.
Single-member wards are expected to more closely link councillors to the community they serve and ensure representation is genuinely local.
The panels will advise the minister on issues such as the total number of councillors for each municipality, and the ward structure, including the number of wards (if subdivided), number of councillors per ward, ward boundaries and names.
The panels will be chaired by T Frank Vincent AO KC and Julie Eisenbise. Panel members include Elizabeth Williams, Timothy Presnell and the Victorian electoral commissioner.
“The appointment of Electoral Representation Advisory Panels will ensure that councils are effectively representing the communities they serve,” Ms Horne said.
“We’re serious about improving culture in local councils and part of that is ensuring appropriate representation for communities.”
