Businesses left out of election race

The business community has raised serious concerns about the non-residential voting process, raising conjecture that the City of Sydney
Council is intentionally disenfranchising shop owners ahead of the
September 8 council elections.

Only 396 non-residents voted in the 2008 election, in which Lord
Mayor Clover Moore won the City of Sydney election with a resounding
victory using her traditional stronghold in the residential vote.
Angela Vithoulkas, member of the Living Sydney party and owner of
Viva Café, believes “there is a massive lack of awareness” among the
business community about the non-residential voting process.

“I’ve been a business owner in the City of Sydney for 27 years,” she
said. “I didn’t know until two months ago that I was eligible to vote.”
Seventy-five per cent of rates paid are by business owners or occupiers,
accounting for $171 million per year. Despite an estimated 50,000 eligible voting businesses situated in the Sydney electorate, the proportion of those voting is minute.

“The Council feels threatened by the business community,” Ms
Vithoulkas said. “We are a substantial population and I think they fear we would over-shadow some sitting counsellors and influence the direction.”

Under the current City of Sydney Act 1988, non-residential voters need
to obtain a Rate Assessment Number (RAN) from Council staff before they
are able to go to the polls, while applicants are forced to reapply after every election. Non-residents are also unable to enrol for the absentee polling option, making it logistically difficult for some business owners to vote.

“The system just sets up so many hurdles,” co-owner of The Record
Store, Stephan Gyory said. “Firstly, you have to find out that there’s a roll, then you have to go and find a form to apply, then you have to go and get your rate assessment number from council, then you have to send that in and then you have to get the letter that someone is now on the roll.

“At the moment, there is no political will to engage with non-residential
voters.”

The City of Sydney Council referred to the issue as a matter for the
NSW Electoral Commission. City of Sydney CEO Monica Barone said: “We have complied with everything asked of us.

“The NSW Electoral Commission has sent out letters to the business
community about the process of non-residential voting.

“I have spoken with Council staff and, if anyone asks for their RAN
number, they will get it as quickly as possible.”

Sydney Liberal Party election candidate, Adrian Bartels, described the
concerns of the business community as “legitimate.”

“I wouldn’t like to say who businesses would vote for, but I would say
that they would have serious concerns about certain aspects of council, be it about voting, outdoor seating, development applications or trading hours.”