Greens back Labor’s plan

Let councillors elect Geelong mayor

THE abolition of the directly elected mayoral system in Geelong is a step closer after the Greens indicated support.

The Greens, who hold a decisive five seats in the state’s Upper House, have backed the Government’s plan to allow the next influx of councillors to choose the city’s mayor.

They confirmed support when debate on Labor’s Bill to abolish the flawed model, introduced to Geelong in 2012, began yesterday.

It ensures the Opposition has a tough task to gain majority support and effect any major changes to Labor’s preferred model for a return to council elections in October.

The Coalition now needs to gain the backing of a handful of disparate groups — such as the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party and the Sex Party — to deliver a directly elected mayor and deputy mayor in Geelong.

Labor wants the mayor to be chosen in-house for two years after elections in October.

Geelong MP Christine Couzens said residents wanted a council that would represent them and listen to what they had to say.

“They are sick of wasting taxpayers’ money on putting mayors in place who don their robes, put on the chains and fluff around but do not actually do anything,” she said.

Under the Government’s plan, the new-look council would feature 11 councillors, elected from new ward divisions called the Bellarine, Northern region, suburban Geelong and central Geelong.

But the Greens have questioned Labor’s push towards three representatives in the north, which overrules a recommendation by the Victorian Electoral Commission last year.

Prahran MP Sam Hibbins said the Government’s overruling of the VEC’s preferred model — which had three councillors in the central ward and two in the northern suburbs — was unprecedented.

The Opposition believes the move is an attempt by Labor to gain a political advantage on the new council.

Liberal Mornington MP David Morris said the Opposition agreed with the total of 11 councillors, but would like to see just three wards that had equal representation.

“We are proposing that the directly elected mayor be retained and that a deputy be added,” he said, plus three wards of three councillors each.

Labor’s Lara MP John Eren said the Liberals had to shoulder blame for the council’s “dysfunction” after choosing a flawed model when they were in government.

He disagreed with criticism of the Citizen’s Jury process, saying the 100-member panel was supported by a 935-strong survey, 30 submissions and wider group discussions.

“We clearly have demonstrated that this is a democratic process,” he said.

“This is the will of the people, and I urge the Opposition to follow the will of the people.”

But South Barwon MP Andrew Katos said the Citizen’s Jury process — which he claimed cost almost $500,000 — had failed to allow consideration of a City of Melbournestyle model.

“Now logically that should have been considered,” the Liberal MP said.

“They are sick of wasting taxpayers money on putting mayors in place who don their robes, put on the chains and fluff around but do not actually do anything.” CHRISTINE COUZENS