Candidates running for Victorian council elections are not disclosing in real time where their funding is coming from, and previously sacked councillors are running for office again. However, many candidates across Melbourne are emphasizing integrity as a key concern if elected. The integrity and independence of local government has been a prevalent issue, with the state government intervening in councils a record number of times due to various issues such as unruly meetings, absenteeism, financial mismanagement, and even a murder.
A survey by The Age of 677 candidates in Greater Melbourne found that 34 per cent wanted to advocate for integrity if elected, surpassing issues such as housing and the environment. Some councillors who were previously sacked or suspended from local government are running for election again, particularly in councils like Whittlesea and Casey. In the City of Melbourne, lord mayoral candidates like Nick Reece and Arron Wood are not disclosing campaign funding until after the election, raising concerns about transparency and corruption.
The survey conducted by The Age asked candidates about their key concerns and political affiliations. Candidates across various councils in Melbourne expressed a range of priorities, with integrity being the most commonly mentioned issue followed by roads and the environment. Housing was not a top concern for most candidates, with only a small percentage identifying homelessness or increased housing density as key issues. Other important topics included rubbish, crime, sports facilities, and opposing privatization of council services.
Candidates in different councils had varying priorities, with some focusing on environmental issues, while others emphasized the importance of roads, public services, and community well-being. The majority of respondents were professionals, with a mix of men and women among the candidates. A significant percentage of candidates were owner-occupiers, while only a small portion were renters. Despite the housing crisis being a major issue at all levels of government, it was not a top priority for many council candidates.
This year, all metropolitan councils (except for City of Melbourne) have shifted to single-member wards, which may impact the diversity of candidates and favor major parties over independents. The implementation of single-member wards has raised concerns about incumbents having an advantage over new candidates in gaining name recognition. Voters in Victoria will receive postal voting packs in the mail and must return their ballots by October 25 for them to be counted. Election results will be declared by November 15, marking the conclusion of the Victorian council elections.
