Labor Retains Majority, Liberals Return To Sydney’s Inner West Council 

By Will Thorpe 

Labor has retained their majority whilst Liberals have returned to the Inner West Council after a four-year absence, with the Greens maintaining a minority presence. 

Mayor Darcy Byrne celebrated the outcome at the Petersham Bowling Club as results trickled in on election night. Posting on Facebook the following day, he thanked voters for their support. 

“At yesterday’s election there were massive swings to our Local Labor team right across the Inner West,” Byrne noted.  

“We’ve been getting a lot done for local people and at this election, we asked for your support to keep that progress going.” He pledged that Labor councillors would work “even harder now to serve everyone in our community, no matter who you voted for.”  

The Greens did not perform as strongly as they hoped, having set out to end Labor’s majority which was established at the previous election in 2021. In that election, the Liberal Party did not endorse any candidates, with the two previously-elected Liberal councillors running as independents and failing to get elected. 

Greens ‘Delighted’ At Election Outcome

Prominent Greens nonetheless expressed satisfaction at the results, with New South Wales Balmain MP Kobi Shetty writing that she was “delighted” with the outcome and noting that four of the party’s five councillors had not run for re-election.

“We want to congratulate all the candidates and volunteers from all parties and independent groups,” Shetty remarked. 

Lead Liberal candidate for the Leichhardt – Gulgadya (Grass Tree) ward Vittoria Raciti told CityHub that she had no doubt that she and Labor councillors “share similar beliefs and policies in a lot of areas.” 

 “Which is predominantly roads, footpaths, rates, and rubbish. That is all the residents and ratepayers are interested in, and nothing else. I may be on the conservative side of politics, but I also share and respect quality policies from all political parties, that assist in enhancing and enriching the beautiful part of the world we live in,” Raciti commented. 

Raciti was on the council before the 2021 election, having previously served on Ashfield Council. 

War In Gaza Infiltrated Election Campaign

The election campaign was influenced by the conflict in Israel-Palestine. Greens councillors incorporated the issue into their campaigns, while a lobby group formed before the council elections targeted Greens candidates for their stance.

Mayor Byrne chided Greens candidates following vandalism of Labor corflutes in the Inner West, accusing them of injecting “extremism & international ideology into our Inner West community” throughout the campaign. 

“Greens Party candidates need to turn the temperature down and refocus on local services & infrastructure,” Bryne posted on Facebook prior to the election. Liberal and Greens candidates also had their corflutes vandalised over the conflict. 

Labor, Liberal, and Greens candidates all emphasised housing support in their platforms. Housing and heritage protection were key issues in this year’s council elections. 

As of publication, counting remains underway, with independent councillor John Stamolis set to lose his seat. The results look more promising for Victor Macri in Marrickville – Midjuburi ward. 

 Fifteen councillors are to be elected, consisting of three from each of the five wards.