100 signatures reached
To: To the Victorian Premier, Minister for Local Government, Leader of the Opposition, Greens, crossbench MPs and all parties contesting the next state election.
One Vote Should Mean One Vote
Melbourne’s council elections are run under outdated rules. The City has asked for a review, and we, the residents, welcome confirmation from Minister Stitt that this review will commence in the current term of parliament.
Important legislative amendments agreed to, but yet to pass the lower house, will see the abolition of group voting tickets, and an end to automatic enrolment of non-residential voters. This is great news and they are an important step towards putting voters back at the centre of Melbourne’s democracy. However, it's not enough.
Now the community is calling on every party to fix the system properly and commit to a full review of the City of Melbourne Act (2001).
Important legislative amendments agreed to, but yet to pass the lower house, will see the abolition of group voting tickets, and an end to automatic enrolment of non-residential voters. This is great news and they are an important step towards putting voters back at the centre of Melbourne’s democracy. However, it's not enough.
Now the community is calling on every party to fix the system properly and commit to a full review of the City of Melbourne Act (2001).
Why is this important?
Melbourne is Victoria’s capital city. Its council elections should be fair, transparent and democratic.
But right now, City of Melbourne elections are run under special rules that give some interests more voting power than ordinary residents.
But right now, City of Melbourne elections are run under special rules that give some interests more voting power than ordinary residents.
Businesses and non-residential property owners can have voting power that ordinary residents do not, with up to two votes per entity. Residents can, and have been, outnumbered on the electoral roll. Campaign donations may not be revealed until after people have already voted.
That is not good enough for the heart of Victoria.
This is not about left or right. It is about a basic democratic principle: one vote should mean one vote.
The City of Melbourne itself has called for a review of the electoral system. Now the community is backing that call.
We call on the Victorian Government to act on its commitment, and for all parties contesting the next state election to also commit to an independent public review of the City of Melbourne Act and electoral system, with genuine community consultation and reforms in place before the next council election in 2028.
The review should consider reforms that:
· make voting power fair – no more double votes for non-residents;
· make voting power fair – no more double votes for non-residents;
· require campaign donations to be disclosed before people vote – a real time donations register;
· protect council decisions from conflicts of interest – ban donations from property developers and gambling interests.
Melbourne should lead on democracy, not lag behind.
One vote should mean one vote. Sign to fix Melbourne’s election rules