Randwick Mayoralty to be negotiated

Randwick Council’s Liberal Party has won the majority of primary votes to stand in a strong position as conjecture continues over the final formation of Council.

The Liberals won four of the five wards and increased their margin by six per cent, with preferences to decide the end result. The Liberals were the beneficiaries of a nine per cent swing against the Greens.

With the final makeup of the 15 seat Council to be decided over coming days, candidates have identified a number of different potentially critical issues in forming a majority. Liberal Mayor Scott Nash said the “financial sustainability” of Council was particularly important.

“At the end of the day, promises about local services mean nothing unless you have money to provide them. And local government is all about providing services,” he said.

Current Greens Councillor Murray Matson, who was recontesting East Ward said increased density is “a pertinent issue that people will coalesce around when they are voting.”

Paul Tracey, the last Labor Councillor to be Mayor and who is retiring at this election, identified “anti-development, the level of rates, parking and traffic” as defining issues in the election.

Independent Councillor Anthony Andrews said Federal dissatisfaction meant voters would step away from the major parties. Mr Andrews said voters were feeling the effects of increased costs of living and would be “protesting against Gillard” when they voted on election day.

With 15 councillors to be elected and no group likely to receive an overwhelming majority, a coalition of parties seems likely to select the Mayor. The Council has operated since 2004 under a time strained ‘inclusive power sharing agreement’, which has seen the Greens, Liberals and Labor share the position of Mayor and Deputy Mayor. Adding further intrigue, nearly a quarter of the previous Council did not stand for re-election.

Most parties contesting the election were looking to approach the aftermath of September 8 in a spirit of cooperation. Mr Nash said “the slate [was wiped] clear after Saturday” and that he would negotiate with any parties or independents elected to Council.

“As the Mayor I’ve always taken the view that we go into elections as political enemies … Once the election is decided, out of necessity, you have to  work with people even if they not of the same party as you.”

Mr Matson has stated that the Greens had “made no decision as to what sort of arrangements will be entered into or pursued.”

“It may well be that we revert to just supporting one party. Or we may go back and try to resurrect the inclusive sharing approach.”

Mr Andrews said he believed Liberal Mayor Scott Nash had “done a fantastic job,” but that he would be willing to “work with anyone who is good for the community.”

Mr Tracey said it was likely that the support of the Greens would decide who became Mayor, but that no outcome was assured.

“You never know who is going to be Mayor in Randwick until the last minute; you don’t know what deals have been done.”

Elsewhere, there was an swing towards the Liberal Party in Saturday’s Marrickville Council elections. This was consistent with the improved conservative vote across the state.

The 11 per cent swing will see Marrickville anoint two Liberal councillors for the first time in the electorate’s history, which has traditionally attracted the left-wing vote. Liberal candidate Rosana Tyler is on track to win a seat in West Ward, as is Mark Gardiner in North Ward.