Local Government Participation and Elections Review
Consultation has concluded. Thanks for your contributions.
Have your say on ideas and suggestions for changing the way councils operate in South Australia
What's being decided?
The Office of Local Government is conducting a state-wide consultation to give the community an opportunity to provide feedback on ideas and suggestions on how communities can better engage with their councils through a council term and, particularly, at election time.
This review and consultation will focus on these key topics:
- ways to better engage and participate with councils;
- ways to encourage a greater number of more diverse candidates for election to councils;
- ways to increase voter turnout; and
- ways to ensure that council elections are run efficiently, with the highest level of integrity.
Background
Local councils are often described as the sphere of government that is ‘closest to the people’. The services they provide are often those that touch our day-to-day lives most closely. Yet this involvement with local services isn’t always reflected in how people engage with councils.
While local members are elected to represent their local communities, historically only around one-third of voters choose to vote in their local council elections.
Councils can also struggle to have a good number of diverse candidates willing to stand for election, to ensure that a local elected body has the best chance of representing and making the best decisions for its local community.
Over the past 20 years, the local government sector has been making increasingly large investments in promoting elections, both to encourage nominations, and to increase voter turnout. Despite these investments, engagement with councils at election times has remained at consistently low rates.
The 2023 Local Government Participation and Elections Review will focus on participation and elections, including:
- improving people’s engagement with councils;
- increasing the number and diversity of council members; and
- increasing voter turnout.
Get involved
Find out more by:
- Reading the Local Government Participation and Elections Review Discussion Paper
- Reading the Local Government Participation and Elections Review Summary Paper
Have your say by:
- Completing the online survey below
- Sharing a comment via the community forum ('Guestbook') below
- Emailing your comments to DIT.LocalGovernmentReform@sa.gov.au
- Posting written feedback to Office of Local Government, GPO Box 1533, Adelaide, SA 5001
- Phoning the Office of Local Government on (08) 7133 3277
What are the next steps?
Feedback gathered via this consultation will play a key role in informing reform proposals and the development of the bill to amend local government legislation, including the:
Consultation outcomes are expected to be published on this website and on the Department for Infrastructure and Transport’s website in May 2024.
Statutes Amendment (Local Government Elections Review) Act 2025
Feedback gathered via this consultation played a key role in informing reform proposals included in the Statutes Amendment (Local Government Elections Review) Bill 2025, which passed both Houses of Parliament on 13 October 2025 and was assented to on 27 November. The Statutes Amendment (Local Government Elections Review) Act 2025 came into operation on 1 January 2026. Further information is available on the Office of Local Government website.
Documents
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Consultation Summary.pdf (193 KB) (pdf)
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YourSAy Survey Results.pdf (313 KB) (pdf)
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Summary of Feedback.pdf (6.67 MB) (pdf)
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Local Government Participation and Elections Review Discussion Paper (1.19 MB) (pdf)
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Local Government Participation and Elections Review Summary Paper (470 KB) (pdf)
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Local Government Participation and Elections Review Flyer (373 KB) (pdf)
I would like to thank Minister Brock and his staff, and the OLG, for making this all possible, and the excellent survey. Minister Brock, as a former long term local government member, seems to have the care to get this right, and this is welcome, and appreciated.
I would like to thank Minister Brock and his staff, and the OLG, for making this all possible, and the excellent survey. Minister Brock, as a former long term local government member, seems to have the care to get this right, and this is welcome, and appreciated.
Dear Minister Brock,
We, the undersigned elected members of local governments across South Australia, write to you to endorse the current proposal to make voting in council elections compulsory, as outlined in the Local Government Participation and Elections Review Discussion Paper (https://yoursay.sa.gov.au/council-participation-elections).
We firmly believe the principle of compulsory voting, as adopted for all elections across Australia except for local elections in Western Australia and our own, will build democratic legitimacy for the level of government closest to the people of South Australia.
Although the model for compulsory local council elections is open to discussion, we believe that the improved voter turnout resulting from a compulsory model will increase public accountability and improve outcomes for the vital work our governments perform, ensuring that the broader community has greater confidence in its elected local government members.
We believe that this reform will deliver better results for South Australia and endorse its implementation following the current Local Government Participation and Elections Review.
Thank you for considering this proposal.
Sincerely,
Cr Sam Whiting, City of West Torrens
Cr David Paton, Adelaide Plains Council
Cr Marisa Bell, City of Onkaparinga
Cr Brian Lockyer, Barunga West Council
Cr Leith Mudge, Adelaide Hills Council
Cr Craig Maidment, Alexandrina Council
Cr Arman Abrahimzadeh, City of Adelaide
Cr Graham Nitschke, City of West Torrens
Cr Peter Cornish, City of Burnside
Cr Misty Norris, City of Playford
Cr David Wilkins, City of Port Adelaide Enfield
Cr Grant Rowlands, Barunga West Council
Cr Jagdish Lakhani, Campbelltown City Council
Cr Akram Arifi, City of Playford
Cr Sharon McKell, City of Salisbury
Cr David Knox, City of Whyalla
Cr Michael Phillips-Ryder, Light Regional Council
Cr Chris Crabbe, City of Unley
Deputy Lord Mayor Keiran Snape, City of Adelaide
Cr Ian Burfitt, Clare and Gilbert Valleys Council
Cr Brian Sambell, Town of Gawler
Cr Luke Doyle, City of Unley
Cr David Elliott, City of Adelaide
Cr John Barberien, Northern Areas Council
Mayor Marijka Ryan, City of Tea Tree Gully
Mayor Karen Redman, Town of Gawler
Cr Jeanette Gellard, Kangaroo Island Council
Cr Lazaras Panayiotou, City of Port Adelaide Enfield
Cr Dr Marilyn Henderson, City of Victor Harbor
Cr Simon Hou, City of Adelaide
Cr Geoffrey Eaton, City of Onkaparinga
Cr Karen Eckermann, Rural City of Murray Bridge
Cr Isaac Solomon, Town of Gawler
Cr Liz Trotter, Town of Walkerville
Cr Jay Allanson, Town of Walkerville
Deputy Mayor Jack Ritchie, City of Port Lincoln
Cr Malcolm Herrmann, Adelaide Hills Council
Cr Brent Walker, Copper Coast Council
Cr Mandy Toczek McPeake, Mid-Murray Council
Cr Peter Borda, City of Whyalla
Deputy Mayor Lynton Mackenzie, Tatiara District Council
Cr Shania Richards, City of Port Lincoln
Cr Judith Partington, Regional Council of Goyder
Cr John Drew, Wattle Range District Council
Cr Jeannine Naughton, Clare & Gilbert Valleys Council
Cr Chris Mead, Southern Mallee District Council
Cr Ethan White, Town of Gawler
Cr Kerry Hallett, City of Burnside
Mayor Moira Were AM, City of Onkaparinga
Cr Lauren Jew, City of Onkaparinga
Cr Alyson Emery, Light Regional Council
Cr Janet Evans, Ceduna District Council
Cr Dr Mark Siebentritt, City of Adelaide
Cr Jane Bange, City of Mitcham
Cr Ashley Traeger, Elliston District Council
Cr Margherita Panella, Adelaide Plains Council
Cr Kristina Barnett, City of Prospect
Deputy Mayor Marcus Strudwicke, Adelaide Plains Council
Cr Michael Fisher, City of Onkaparinga
Cr Peter Kennelly, Light Regional Council
Cr Craig Ferber, Loxton Waikerie District Council
Cr Mark Standen, City of Prospect
Cr Bruce Schmidt, Copper Coast Council
Cr David Knox, Whyalla City Council
Mayor Anne Monceaux, City of Burnside
Mayor Ron Valentine, Southern Mallee District Council
Cr Paul Yeomans, City of Onkaparinga
Cr Greg Miller, Kangaroo Island Council
Cr Louise Pascale, Adelaide Hills Council
Cr Ian Light, Loxton Waikerie District Council
Cr Lillian Poynter, City of Port Lincoln
Deputy Mayor Clive Matthews, Loxton Waikerie District Council
Cr David Olsson, District Council of Yankalilla
Cr Janet Giles, City of Adelaide
Cr Melanie Selwood, Adelaide Hills Council
Cr Tom Morrison, City of Mitcham
Cr Pauline Gill, Adelaide Hills Council
Cr Michael Vowles, Loxton Waikerie District Council
Cr Sonya Altschwager, Loxton Waikerie District Council
Dear Minister Brock,
We, the undersigned elected members of local governments across South Australia, write to you to endorse the current proposal to make voting in council elections compulsory, as outlined in the Local Government Participation and Elections Review Discussion Paper (https://yoursay.sa.gov.au/council-participation-elections).
We firmly believe the principle of compulsory voting, as adopted for all elections across Australia except for local elections in Western Australia and our own, will build democratic legitimacy for the level of government closest to the people of South Australia.
Although the model for compulsory local council elections is open to discussion, we believe that the improved voter turnout resulting from a compulsory model will increase public accountability and improve outcomes for the vital work our governments perform, ensuring that the broader community has greater confidence in its elected local government members.
We believe that this reform will deliver better results for South Australia and endorse its implementation following the current Local Government Participation and Elections Review.
Thank you for considering this proposal.
Sincerely,
Cr Sam Whiting, City of West Torrens
Cr David Paton, Adelaide Plains Council
Cr Marisa Bell, City of Onkaparinga
Cr Brian Lockyer, Barunga West Council
Cr Leith Mudge, Adelaide Hills Council
Cr Craig Maidment, Alexandrina Council
Cr Arman Abrahimzadeh, City of Adelaide
Cr Graham Nitschke, City of West Torrens
Cr Peter Cornish, City of Burnside
Cr Misty Norris, City of Playford
Cr David Wilkins, City of Port Adelaide Enfield
Cr Grant Rowlands, Barunga West Council
Cr Jagdish Lakhani, Campbelltown City Council
Cr Akram Arifi, City of Playford
Cr Sharon McKell, City of Salisbury
Cr David Knox, City of Whyalla
Cr Michael Phillips-Ryder, Light Regional Council
Cr Chris Crabbe, City of Unley
Deputy Lord Mayor Keiran Snape, City of Adelaide
Cr Ian Burfitt, Clare and Gilbert Valleys Council
Cr Brian Sambell, Town of Gawler
Cr Luke Doyle, City of Unley
Cr David Elliott, City of Adelaide
Cr John Barberien, Northern Areas Council
Mayor Marijka Ryan, City of Tea Tree Gully
Mayor Karen Redman, Town of Gawler
Cr Jeanette Gellard, Kangaroo Island Council
Cr Lazaras Panayiotou, City of Port Adelaide Enfield
Cr Dr Marilyn Henderson, City of Victor Harbor
Cr Simon Hou, City of Adelaide
Cr Geoffrey Eaton, City of Onkaparinga
Cr Karen Eckermann, Rural City of Murray Bridge
Cr Isaac Solomon, Town of Gawler
Cr Liz Trotter, Town of Walkerville
Cr Jay Allanson, Town of Walkerville
Deputy Mayor Jack Ritchie, City of Port Lincoln
Cr Malcolm Herrmann, Adelaide Hills Council
Cr Brent Walker, Copper Coast Council
Cr Mandy Toczek McPeake, Mid-Murray Council
Cr Peter Borda, City of Whyalla
Deputy Mayor Lynton Mackenzie, Tatiara District Council
Cr Shania Richards, City of Port Lincoln
Cr Judith Partington, Regional Council of Goyder
Cr John Drew, Wattle Range District Council
Cr Jeannine Naughton, Clare & Gilbert Valleys Council
Cr Chris Mead, Southern Mallee District Council
Cr Ethan White, Town of Gawler
Cr Kerry Hallett, City of Burnside
Mayor Moira Were AM, City of Onkaparinga
Cr Lauren Jew, City of Onkaparinga
Cr Alyson Emery, Light Regional Council
Cr Janet Evans, Ceduna District Council
Cr Dr Mark Siebentritt, City of Adelaide
Cr Jane Bange, City of Mitcham
Cr Ashley Traeger, Elliston District Council
Cr Margherita Panella, Adelaide Plains Council
Cr Kristina Barnett, City of Prospect
Deputy Mayor Marcus Strudwicke, Adelaide Plains Council
Cr Michael Fisher, City of Onkaparinga
Cr Peter Kennelly, Light Regional Council
Cr Craig Ferber, Loxton Waikerie District Council
Cr Mark Standen, City of Prospect
Cr Bruce Schmidt, Copper Coast Council
Cr David Knox, Whyalla City Council
Mayor Anne Monceaux, City of Burnside
Mayor Ron Valentine, Southern Mallee District Council
Cr Paul Yeomans, City of Onkaparinga
Cr Greg Miller, Kangaroo Island Council
Cr Louise Pascale, Adelaide Hills Council
Cr Ian Light, Loxton Waikerie District Council
Cr Lillian Poynter, City of Port Lincoln
Deputy Mayor Clive Matthews, Loxton Waikerie District Council
Cr David Olsson, District Council of Yankalilla
Cr Janet Giles, City of Adelaide
Cr Melanie Selwood, Adelaide Hills Council
Cr Tom Morrison, City of Mitcham
Cr Pauline Gill, Adelaide Hills Council
Cr Michael Vowles, Loxton Waikerie District Council
Cr Sonya Altschwager, Loxton Waikerie District Council
I have recently completed a Churchill Fellowship exploring youth engagement with democracy. This took me to England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. In many of these places young people aged 16-18 can run for election in local council elections and vote in local council elections too. In many of these places, local councils also have greater control over resource allocation for key community services (including child and youth services). I think we could learn from those experiences and embrace a more proactive approach to how local government engages with younger South Australians. I think this is urgent to rebuild trust in democratic institutions and to address the challenges outlined in the Discussion Paper. I would be very pleased to discuss my research with the YourSAy team. My detailed report and overview of the project is available here https://www.churchilltrust.com.au/fellow/sarah-moulds-sa-2022/. My email is sarah.moulds@unisa.edu.au.
Associate Professor Dr Sarah Moulds, University of South Australia
That's not quite true Ken. To save ratepayers money, Onkaparinga council reduced their elected members from 21 to 13 in a representation review not so long ago. So some chambers are able to make the tough decisions for what they believe is the greater good. However I acknowledge that decision actually made the ratio you are describing even worse: 178,550 Onkaparinga residents (ABS ERP 2022)/13 elected members = 13,735 people per councillor).
I would like to see changes to the whole council members and the elections and the number of aldermen in each area and how many rate payers to aldermen ration. Holdfast council have approximately 1 alderman for 2,500 rate payers. Onkaperinga and Marion have about 1 alderman to 10,000 rate payers. The current method of reviewing that is done by the elected councillors and of course their extremely brief review of themselves always comes up with the answer "we have the right ratio" despite it being the lowest is the state. Where else in Australia do people review themselves and determine "yes I should keep my job?" How do we change this? SA State govt won't do anything about it and the Australian government say "its not our job". No wonder votes don't turn up. Then there are the elected members who do not provide contact details to ratepayers or don't provide any feed back to questions put to them. then there are the issues of planning that have been taken out of the hands of councils and controlled by the State Government. Look at the Maturin Road Drug and Alcohol Rehab centre proposed to be put into Glenelg and the council planning and change of use legislation was completely bypassed by a dodgy Labor Government. Also consider the Sea Watch apartments that was allowed to bypass council guideline for the area and addressed direct by the State Govt because it was over $10m. Too many people think councils are becoming lame ducks and will one day be done away with altogether. No wonder they dont turn out to vote on council elections. Currently Marion Council have $20m in the bank. Holdfast Council are in the red to $31m. Despite numerous representations to council by the Holdfast Residents Alliance on the debt level, every year in continues to increase every year. It appears the skills in managing money and budgeting is not a prerequisite to get elected to council.