Number of councillors for divisions
15 Number of councillors for divisions
Each division of a local government area must have a reasonable proportion of electors for each councillor elected, or to be elected, for the division.
A reasonable proportion of electors for a councillor of a division is the number of electors that is worked out by dividing the total number of electors in the local government area (as nearly as can be found out) by the total number of councillors (other than the mayor) currently elected, or to be elected, for the local government, plus or minus—
for a local government area with more than 10,000 electors—10%; or
for any other local government area—20%.
Examples—
1 If the total number of electors in the local government area is 15,000, and the number of councillors (other than the mayor) is 5, the reasonable proportion of electors is 3,000 (i.e. 15,000 divided by 5) plus or minus 10%, i.e. between 2,700 and 3,300 electors.
2 If the total number of electors in the local government area is 5,000, and the number of councillors (other than the mayor) is 5, the reasonable proportion of electors is 1,000 (i.e. 5,000 divided by 5) plus or minus 20%, i.e. between 800 and 1,200 electors.
When changing a division, including changing the number of councillors elected, or to be elected, for the division, the reasonable proportion of electors for a councillor of a division must be worked out as near as practicable to the time when the change is to happen.
This Act’s bill:Explanatory memorandumSecond reading speech
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