Double Bay Business Disenfranchised at By-Election

Not a single business ratepayer has successfully enrolled to vote at the upcoming Woollahra Council by-election for Double Bay ward.

Councillor Elena Kirillova resigned on 31 December 2013, sparking the need for the by-election. The non-resident electoral roll was closed on 3 February 2014. The by-election is scheduled to be held on 15 March 2014.

“For the first time in living memory, not a single business has successfully enrolled to vote at the upcoming Double Bay ward by-election.” Lesli Berger, Deputy-Chairman of the Double Bay Chamber of Commerce said.

“Never before has the Double Bay business community been completely disenfranchised at a Woollahra Council election.”

“It is outrageous that as a result of the timing of Councillor Kirillova’s resignation, the Double Bay business community was only given 5 weeks to enroll to vote over the busy Christmas period. Is it any surprise that due to the legislative requirement to purge the electoral roll for non-resident ratepayers after each local government election that the business community will not have a voice at the upcoming by-election?”

“Australia has a system of compulsory voting at the State and Federal level and it is also compulsory for residents to vote in Council elections. It is scandalous that there is a different rule for business ratepayers in Council elections.”

“It is perverse that the Law has operated to prevent Double Bay’s business community from voting in the Double Bay ward by-election given Double Bay’s business community pay over a million dollars in Council rates and it is the customers’ of the business community who enable Woollahra Council to earn millions of dollars in parking meter and parking infringement revenue.”

“The Chairman of the Double Bay Chamber of Commerce has written to the Minister for Local Government calling on the NSW Government to amend these discriminatory laws so that the Double Bay business community is never again disenfranchised at a local government election.” Mr Berger said.

Media Release

Lesli Berger, Deputy Chairman of the Double Bay Chamber of Commerce

Double Bay Chamber of Commerce

24 February 2014