The 2021 South Gippsland Shire Council election was held in October 2021 to elect nine councillors for South Gippsland Shire, a local government area (LGA) in Victoria, Australia.
This was the first election for the council since it was dismissed by the sacked by the state government in June 2019, which resulted in its scheduled 2020 election being delayed by a year. The only elected candidate who had previously served on the council was Mohya Davies, who was elected in 2012 but defeated in 2016.
The Victorian Greens endorsed two candidates, while Liberal Party member Nathan Herseyn also contested the election. The local Labor Party branch expressed interest, but did not end up endorsing any candidates.
Background
Following the 2016 election and up until the council was dismissed, five different councillors resigned.
Maxine Kiel (Tarwin Valley Ward) tendered her resignation on 26 September 2018, with Rosemary Cousin − who had joined the Greens that month after contesting as an independent in 2016 − elected as her replacement following a countback.
Liberal Party member Meg Edwards (Tarwin Valley Ward) resigned on 30 October, being replaced by independent James Fawcett the following month.
On 28 February 2019, both Fawcett and fellow councillor Lorraine Brunt (Strzelecki Ward) resigned. Brunt was replaced by Frank Hirst, however no candidate was initially declared elected as Fawcett's replacement at a 1 April countback, with Steve Finlay was elected a week later in a second countback.
Councillor Jeremy Rich (Coastal-Promontory Ward) resigned on 22 April after being charged with "cultivating and trafficking a commercial quantity of cannabis". He was replaced by United Australia Party member Matthew Sherry.
On 18 June 2019, the council was officially dismissed and three administrators appointed in place of elected councillors. A report into the council found there was "aggressive" councillor behaviour and suggested a "necessary" two-year break. As a result, South Gippsland was one of three LGAs without an election in October 2020.
Campaign In September 2021, campaigning for the election began. Some, including dismissed councillor James Fawcett and Gippsland South MP Danny O'Brien, called for former councillors not to contest.
Former mayor and councillor Don Hill, who decided to contest the election, was accused of using his newspaper, South Gippsland Voices, to promote his campaign.
The election was conducted entirely by post and voting began on 5 October. After a large proportion of ballot papers did not arrive by the 22 October deadline, the Victorian Electoral Commission extended the voting deadline by one week.
Results +2021 South Gippsland Shire Council election Party Votes % Swing Seats Change Independent 18,731 87.02 8 Greens 1,518 7.05 0 Independent Liberal 1,518 5.93 1 Formal votes 21,526 96.47 Informal votes 788 3.53 Total 22,314 100.0 Registered voters / turnout 27,376 81.51
Coastal-Promontory
Strzelecki
Tarwin Valley
Change in composition Ward 2016 election Council before dismissal 2021 election CouncillorParty CouncillorParty CouncillorPartyCoastal-Promontory Alysson Skinner Independent Alysson Skinner Independent Scott Rae Independent Ray Argento Independent Ray Argento Independent Mohya Davies Independent Jeremy Rich Independent Matthew Sherry United Australia Sarah Gilligan IndependentStrzelecki Lorraine Brunt Independent Frank Hirst Independent Jenni Keerie Independent Andrew McEwen Independent Andrew McEwen Independent Mick Felton Independent Aaron Brown Independent Aaron Brown Independent Nathan Hersey Ind. LiberalTarwin Valley Meg Edwards Ind. Liberal Steve Finlay Independent John Schelling Independent Don Hill Independent Don Hill Independent Clare Williams Independent Maxine Kiel Independent Rosemary Cousin Greens Adrian Darakai Independent
References