2004 Victorian local elections

The 2004 Victorian local elections were held on 26 November 2004 to elect the councils of 22 of the 79 local government areas in Victoria, Australia.

Until 2008, local elections in Victoria were conducted periodically, meaning 54 councils were not up for election in 2004. An additional three LGAs that were scheduled to vote in 2004 also did not have elections.

A shift away from single-member wards in favour of multi-member wards began in 2004, in particular in the Greater Melbourne area.

The election in Yarra saw the first-ever victory for the Socialist Party, with Stephen Jolly elected in Langridge Ward. He was reportedly the first elected socialist councillor in Melbourne "since the Second World War".

In Melbourne, Labor Party members ran on a ticket called 'Active Local Progressive' (ALP), led by Raymond Collins.

Party changes before elections A number of councillors joined or left parties before the 2004 elections. Council Ward Councillor Former party New party Date Melbourne Unsubdivided Kevin Chamberlin  Labor  Independent 7 November 2002 Melbourne Unsubdivided Kevin Chamberlin  Independent  Kevin Chamberlin For Melbourne 2004

Results

Party Votes % Swing Seats Change   Independents 606,598 76.92 159   Labor 78,241 9.92 22   Greens 21,995 2.79 6 2   Liberal 21,686 2.75 9   Melbourne Living 18,155 2.30 3   Socialist Alliance 5,512 0.70 0   Democratic Labour 4,378 0.56 1 1   Independent Labor 4,637 0.59 1   Kevin Chamberlin For Melbourne 3,297 0.42 0   Melbourne Civic Group 3,018 0.38 1   Advance Melbourne 2,742 0.35 1   Serving Melbourne 2,335 0.30 1   Residents First - Stop The Rates Ripoff 2,210 0.28 0   Melbourne First 1,454 0.18 0   Active Local Progressive 1,441 0.18 0   Campaign for a Better City 1,375 0.17 0   Socialist Left-Wing Team 1,359 0.17 1 1   Melbourne: Building An Even Better City 1,261 0.16 0   Melbourne At Work 904 0.12 0   Melbourne Matters 860 0.11 0   Sue Chambers Act Local Team 822 0.11 0   Growing Melbourne 777 0.10 0   Melbourne Arts Fashion Design Innovation 777 0.10 0   Transparency And Accountability 724 0.09 0   !ST@ND UP 4 MELBOURNE! 555 0.07 0   Strengthen Melbourne 493 0.06 0   Evolving Melbourne 394 0.05 0   Save Our Streets 332 0.04 0   Sustainable City 231 0.03 0  Total 788,563 100.0 204  Informal votes  Turnout

Council control Party Councils Number Change   Independent 17   No overall control 2   Labor 2   Melbourne Living 1

Notes

References