DUBBO Regional Council candidates can spend more than three times more per voter than their counterparts in Orange, forcing Local Government NSW to push for changes to campaign funding rules.
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LGNSW president Linda Scott said the Electoral Funding Act 2018 was rushed through NSW Parliament in May and appeared set to stifle the supply of information to help voters make their choice at the ballot box.
“There is no consistency in the application of caps and an obvious disparity in allowable funding – not only between metropolitan and regional areas, but within those areas themselves,” she said.
She pointed to Orange council candidates, who would be allowed to spend $0.17 per voter, compared with Dubbo candidates, who could splash out $0.69 per voter.
She said wards made a difference to the calculations – Dubbo has 10,000 more residents, but it has wards, meaning fewer constituents for its candidates.
“It’s complex – it looks at whether you’re running for mayor or a councillor and it makes a difference if you run as an independent or as a political group,” she said.
“Political groups can access higher caps, which is also totally unfair.”
Cr Scott said having caps in place was not a problem because they already existed in state government elections, but LGNSW was looking for a better calculation system.
Cr Scott said expenditure caps on third party campaigners including LGNSW, the NSW Farmers Federation, the CWA and the Combined Pensioners and Superannuants Association would be as low as $2500 per council area.
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“This legislation could be perceived as a gag law, and may be inconsistent with the implied right to freedom of communication – a position the courts have said is necessary to ensure voters can exercise an informed choice,” she said.
A parliamentary inquiry was announced in May to look into the legislation and Cr Scott urged the Berejiklian government to ensure the matter was settled before the March state election to allow potential candidates to adjust before the 2020 council elections.
“It’s important they have enough time to know what the rules are,” she said.
“It’s the only way councils and communities will get the electoral certainty, consistency and fairness they deserve.”
Danielle Cetinski
Danielle started at the Kiama Independent in 2010 before moving to the Central Western Daily in 2014. She covers council, court, politics, general news and business, and elections are her favourite time of the year. Got a tip? Email danielle.cetinski@centralwesterndaily.com.au
Danielle started at the Kiama Independent in 2010 before moving to the Central Western Daily in 2014. She covers council, court, politics, general news and business, and elections are her favourite time of the year. Got a tip? Email danielle.cetinski@centralwesterndaily.com.au
