The final list of candidates for the 2024 NSW Local Government elections were made available on Thursday, 15 August.
The lists were released as it was revealed the New South Wales Liberal Party had missed the candidate nomination deadline for a number of councils ahead of next month's statewide local government elections.
A number of incumbent councillors, including ones who are in blue ribbon Liberal areas, will no longer be able to run.
According to the NSW Electoral Commission website, the Liberals who had announced they would contest for a seat in the Northern Beaches LGA, are not listed.
In the Northern Beaches Council LGA, the Liberal party gained a new member after a Your Northern Beaches Independent Team councillor, Michael Gencher, defected in January 2024.
Mr. Gencher had been posting on a Facebook page for his candidate shire directing supporters to donate to those members standing in the LGA and had an image of a blue t-shirt supporters could wear, emblazoned with his name, a Liberal Party logo and a 'fighting for Pittwater' motto.
A Northern Beaches Liberal Candidates campaign launch, held Friday August 9 at Manly, stated Northern Beaches Liberal Candidates were Cr. Georgia Ryburn, Cr. Karina Page, Cr. Dave Walton, Cr. Michael Gencher and Jonathan Malota.
Mandeep Singh, an ungrouped Candidate for the Pittwater ward, is listed with the NSW Electoral Commissions as a Liberal Party Member.
Pittwater has the only other ungrouped candidate in Phil Walker.
Liberal State Director Richard Shields has stated: "With the secretariat resources that we had available, unfortunately we were unable to nominate in all of the local government areas that were put forward by the State Executive."
Labor, who is contesting several NBC LGA wards for the first time in their history, will be on the ballot.
The NSW Electoral Commission reminded Candidates on August 8 2024 Nominations must be lodged by 12 noon on Wednesday, 14 August.
Acting NSW Electoral Commissioner Dr Matthew Phillips said late nominations and amendments are not permitted under legislation.
“This means no changes to nominations or new lodgements can be accepted after 12 noon on Wednesday 14 August.”
“Candidates should lodge their nomination early so there’s time for our team to check whether their paperwork is in order. By lodging well before the deadline, there’s time for candidates to correct any errors identified and still meet the nomination requirements.”
Dr Phillips emphasised nominations are a separate process from registering as a candidate for electoral funding purposes.
“Registration for electoral funding does not get a candidate’s name on the ballot paper – only a valid nomination by 12 noon on Wednesday 14 August 2024 does that.”
“But candidates must still be registered with the NSW Electoral Commission before accepting political donations or making payments for Electoral expenditure.”
“After candidates are nominated on 15 August, all nominated candidates who have not already registered will be deemed registered to accept donations and pay for their campaigns.”
The failure to lodge Liberal Party candidate nominations on time means around 140 candidates across 16 councils are not on the ballot.
Mr Shields said in the week before nominations closed, the party had endorsed 249 candidates in 31 council areas.
"This brought the total number of Liberal candidates for local government to 440 which was an increase from 318 at the 2021 local election," Mr Shields said.
Candidates could have submitted their own nominations, however, that task devolved to Mr. Shields and the secretariat .
Later that same day, August 15 2024 the NSW Liberal Party executive sacked State Director, Richard Shields.
The Party’s State Executive found the Woollahra Mayor’s “failure to meet such a fundamental responsibility has rendered his position untenable”.
“The state director was given the opportunity to explain the circumstances to the State Executive,” Liberal state president, Don Harwin said in a statement.
“As a result, the State Executive has unanimously resolved to terminate the state director’s employment with immediate effect.”
The nomination failure means Liberal candidates do not appear on ballot papers for the local government areas of Blue Mountains, Campbelltown, Cessnock, Lane Cove, Maitland, Northern Beaches, Shoalhaven and Wollongong.
Nominations are also missing from the Camden, Canterbury-Bankstown, Central Coast, Georges River, Hornsby, Newcastle, North Sydney, Penrith, and Queanbeyan Palarang councils.
Update: NSW Electoral Commission refuses NSW Liberal Party extension for local government election nominations
A request from the NSW Liberal Party for an extension to lodge council election nominations has been declined, after the party missed a crucial deadline to file paperwork for about 140 candidates.
The NSW Electoral Commission received a letter, dated Friday August 16, from the party's State President, Don Harwin, requesting the nomination period be extended for the elections next month.
Mr Harwin asked for the party to be given an extra seven days to submit nomination forms after its head office failed to meet the 12pm cut-off on Wednesday, August 14.
Mr. Harwin's letter is stated to indicate that, in the absence of such confirmation, urgent proceedings may be commenced in the Supreme Court of New South Wales challenging the validity of the existing nomination day, and seeking relief which would require an extension to be made to allow the New South Wales Division of the Liberal Party of Australia to nominate candidates for election.
However, on Saturday, the commission declined the request. This was reiterated on Sunday August 18.
There was still no “realistic possibility” the party or its candidates would not have known the deadline, the Commission stated.
The 2024 NSW Local Government elections will be held on Saturday, 14 September.
Following the ballot paper draws for each local council candidate on Thursday August 15, details were published in the order they will appear on the ballot paper on the NSW Electoral Commission website.
Those confirmed on the NSW Electoral Commission website show an overwhelming number of women candidates for the NBC LGA, including former Candidate for the State seat of Manly, Joeline Hackman, who has become part of the Your Northern Beaches Team.
Joeline Hackman, standing for a Curl Curl seat
Popular Mayor Sue Heins is again standing, this time for the Frenchs Forest Ward. The only other political party to have candidates listed for Frenchs Forest is The Greens.
A new Your Northern Beaches Team member in Newport Chamber of Commerce Rowie Dillon, is also standing for a Pittwater seat.
.JPG?timestamp=1723701446566)
Rowie Dillon, standing for a Pittwater seat
Pittwater Online News will run a 2024 Candidates Profile page, including those who want to tell you more about how they will serve their communities, on Sunday September 1, Issue 634.
Those listed on the NSW Electoral Commission's website as contesting for seats in the NBC LGA, by Ward (NB: Candidates are displayed in order of receipt. Lead Candidate of a Group is listed first) are:
Pittwater Ward
Number of Councillors to be elected: 3
Groups:
THE GREENS
- Miranda KORZY (of Clareville)
- Evan TURNER-SCHILLER (of Avalon Beach)
- Felicity Davis (of Bayview)
YOUR NORTHERN BEACHES INDEPENDENT TEAM
- Rowie Dillon (of Newport)
- Judy Charnaud (of Warriewood)
- Ian White (of Scotland Island)
Ungrouped candidates
Philip WALKER (of Mona Vale)
Mandeep SINGH (of Narrabeen)
Narrabeen Ward
Number of Councillors to be elected: 3
Independent
- Vincent DE LUCA (of North Curl Curl)
- Robert GILTINAN (of Cromer)
- Tammy COOK (of Cromer)
YOUR NORTHERN BEACHES INDEPENDENT TEAM
- Ruth Elaine ROBINS (of Elanora Heights)
- Christopher Peter JACKSON (of Balgowlah)
- Adam Richard HUGHES (of Belrose)
LABOR
- Susan Kay WRIGHT (of Narraweena)
- Ryan O'SULLIVAN(of Dee Why)
Manly Ward
Number of Councillors to be elected: 3
Groups
GOOD FOR MANLY
- Candy BINGHAM (Of Manly)
- Taylah SCHRADER (of Manly Vale)
- Peter GREENTREE (of Manly)
THE GREENS
- Bonnie HARVEY (of Balgowlah)
- Pamela DAWES (of Allambie)
- Terrance LE ROUX (of Balgowlah)
YOUR NORTHERN BEACHES INDEPENDENT TEAM
- Sarah GRATTAN (of Balgowlah Heights)
- Rachael MARTIN (of Balgowlah Heights)
- David COWELL (of Allambie Heights)
LABOR
- Brandt CLIFFORD (of Fairlight)
- Celine VARGHESE-FELL (of Balgowlah)
- Sam PIGRAM (of Balgowlah)
Curl Curl Ward
Number of Councillors to be elected: 3
THE GREENS
- Kristyn GLANVILLE (of Freshwater)
- Judith LAMBERT (of Fairlight)
- Roberto SUARES (of Fairlight)
YOUR NORTHERN BEACHES INDEPENDENT TEAM
- Joeline HACKMAN (of Manly)
- Nicholas BEAUGEARD (of Dee Why)
- Nicholas MCDONALD (of Curl Curl)
LABOR
- Jasper THATCHER (of Manly)
- Carolyn HOWELLS (of Manly)
Frenchs Forest Ward
Number of Councillors to be elected: 3
YOUR NORTHERN BEACHES INDEPENDENT TEAM
- Susan HEINS (of Davidson)
- Jody WILLIAMS (of Killarney Heights)
- Penelope PHILPOTT (of Frenchs Forest)
THE GREENS
- Ethan HRNJAK (of Frenchs Forest)
- Fathimath IBRAHIM (of Cromer)
- Cooper HOLDSWORTH (of Cromer)
Voting by post in NSW council elections? Apply now
The NSW Electoral Commission is reminding residents that Postal vote applications are now open for eligible voters who are unable to vote in person at the upcoming NSW local council elections.
Local council elections will be held in NSW on Saturday, 14 September 2024.
Acting NSW Electoral Commissioner Dr Matthew Phillips, encourages eligible postal voters to apply as early as possible for their postal voting pack.
“Applications opened today, Tuesday, 6 August, and we’ll start sending out postal voting packs from Monday, 19 August after all candidates are confirmed and ballot papers can start to be printed.”
“The most efficient way to apply for a postal voting pack is online through the NSW Electoral Commission website. Applying through third parties can result in significant delays.”
“Apply now on the Commission website to be first in line to receive your pack. Applications are open at opva.elections.nsw.gov.au .”
“Our online portal is simple to use, and postal voting packs can be sent to your home address or any address you nominate within Australia or overseas. If you don’t have internet access, you can phone us,” he said.
Dr Phillips said people who can’t vote in person on election day can also get their vote in ahead of election day by voting at a pre-poll venue.
In addition to postal voting, eligible voters can vote in person one week before election day from Saturday, 7 September to Friday, 13 September (excluding Sunday, 8 September) at pre-poll venues.
“Information on pre-poll locations, accessibility and opening times will be available soon on the NSW Electoral Commission website.”
Dr Phillips said voters should start planning how they would vote now.
“If you won’t be able to vote in person or will be away on election day, make sure you check your voting options on the website and get set to vote.”
Further information about the elections is available at elections.nsw.gov.au
General awareness animations covering voting options and how to fill out a postal vote are available on our YouTube channel.
Information in 26 languages about how, when and where to vote is available on the NSW Electoral Commission's website.
