Clover Moore battles for democracy

The Lord Mayor Clover Moore MP has called the state government’s move to bar councillors from also running as members of parliament a threat to democracy.

“I think it is unfortunate that people, wherever they live, don’t have the maximum choice when they vote at elections,” Ms Moore said. “The system in NSW has worked well since 1856.”

“This is an attempt to reduce peoples’ voting options.”

The ban would exclude MPs from running in local elections and serving as councillors. Conversely, local representatives elected to parliament would have to resign from either role.

Following the March 2011 election, NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell asked the Minister for Local Government, Don Page, to investigate the issue of councillors serving as members of parliament, known as the ‘dual roles’ review.

A spokesperson for Mr Page told City News that the investigation on dual roles was conducted while there were 25 MPs concurrently serving as mayors or councillors in local governments.

When asked if elected MPs would have to resign to compete in the local government contests in September, the spokesperson said that such a situation had yet to be decided.

If the ban were enacted, the dual-role rule which currently applies to council employees, judges and magistrates from serving as local councillors, would also include MPs.

“Then people serving in dual roles will have to make a decision on which position they would prefer to maintain,” Mr Page’s spokesperson said.

Ms Moore said forcing the resignation of MPs or councillors could result in the reduced representation of an electorate.

“The [course] of reduced representation could change the balance of power on affected councils, which might not reflect the voters’ will as expressed at the general local government elections,” Ms Moore said.

A spokesperson for the Rosebery Residents Action Group (RRAG), Graeme Grace, said the proposal to stop Ms Moore from having the dual roles of MP and Lord Mayor should only go ahead if a majority of the public vote for it at a referendum.

“We have been requesting the proposed planning rules changes for Rosebery be voted on by locals but have been denied by the Lord Mayor,” Mr Grace said.

“It’s a pity Clover Moore’s fervor for democracy when it affects herself has not been extended to the residents under her rule.”

Ms Moore has held her mayoral title since 2004 and has served as an MP since 1988. She said any judgements about one person’s ability to successfully carry out both responsibilities should remain the preserve of voters and be put in the context that a person undertaking the dual roles has to face an election approximately every two years.

“I have consistently demonstrated over the past eight years that I can be twice as effective by combining the roles of MP and Lord Mayor,” she said.

“Obviously the voters of the City of Sydney and Electorate of Sydney have agreed with this at the four elections I have contested since becoming Lord Mayor.”

By Kristie Beattie