It’s almost certain Geelong’s newest councillor won’t vote on the city’s contentious 2023-24 budget. That’s prompted a candidate to call for immediate action.
Mental health worker and Socialist Alliance candidate, Sarah Hathway, and RMIT associate professor of engineering, Enamul Haque, are two of three candidates that will be considered in the countback to replace Kylie Grzybek, who has resigned from City Hall.
Both want to serve in the Windermere ward, which covers Geelong’s northern suburbs.
The countback, set for June 28, will mean the newly elected councillor won’t vote on the city’s contentious 2023-24 budget, which will be decided on June 27.
Corio associate professor Dr Enamul Haque from RMIT university. Picture: Mark Wilson
Sarah Hathway. Picture: Peter Ristevski
Ms Hathway said the countback run by the Victorian Electoral Commission should be held before the budget vote.
She said the VEC had complied with regulations by notifying candidates via an advertisement on its website.
“When I raised this with the VEC election manager, I was told that it is practice for the VEC to liaise with council as to whether a countback should be advertised in the statewide or local newspapers in addition to the VEC website,” Ms Hathway said.
“The City of Greater Geelong advised the VEC to publish in the Geelong Advertiser and Geelong Independent.
“Given the Geelong Independent is a weekly publication, the earliest date this can be published is Friday, June 9.
“For reasons that have not been explained, despite the VEC having already met their requirements of notifying candidates and publishing on their own website, they do not consider the 14-day notice period to begin until they have published in local media on Friday, June 9. This means the earliest that the countback can occur is Monday, June 26.
“This is incredibly disappointing as it means the residents of Windermere Ward will be represented by one councillor, instead of three like the other wards, at the next council meeting when they vote on the budget.
“Why is the VEC not abiding by their own processes as per The Local Government Act 2020?
“And why is the VEC taking advice from the City of Greater Geelong that impacts on timing of the countback occurring, when the City of Greater Geelong executive have a vested interest in their budget passing, and likely don’t want another person on council who is going to vote against it?”
The VEC is holding the countback to replace Kylie Grzybek who resigned last week.
Mr Haque would not comment when asked if the date of the countback should be moved.
Ms Hathway said she lodged complaints about the countback date with the VEC and local government minister.
“I would encourage residents in Windermere Ward to make complaints as well, as we deserve full representation at the June 27 Council meeting.”
Monique Connell who contested the 2020 council election in the Windermere ward could not be contacted.
Loading embed…