South Australia’s Local Government Association has called for urgent legislative change to reinstate the elected members of 36 councils who have lost office due to an administrative error.
LGA SA President Dean Johnson said while it was essential to have accountability and transparency in relation to campaign donations and gifts, the cost and consequence of not getting paperwork in on time was disproportionate and unwarranted.
He also points out that some of the affected members have been frustrated by the new process, citing difficulties with the Electoral Commission’s digital submission portal.
Mayor Johnson has suggested immediate changes could be made to legislation to restore the elected members, saving ratepayers potentially thousands in election costs and avoiding the need for legal appeals.