2021 New South Wales local elections
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Registered4,838,137
Turnout83.05% (
6.45pp)
6.45pp) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
4 December 2021
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121 of the 128 local government areas in New South Wales | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Registered | 4,838,137 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Turnout | 83.05% ( 6.45pp) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Largest party in each LGA | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The 2021 New South Wales local elections were held on 4 December 2021 to elect the councils of 121 of the 128 local government areas (LGAs) in New South Wales. Several councils also held mayoral elections and/or referendums.[1]
The Liberal Party did not run in Kiama, North Sydney or Shoalhaven, however a number of party members chose to contest as independents.[2]
Following the 2012 elections, a large amount of councils were amalgamated and the local government areas comprised larger areas. This resulted in 79 councils being contested in 2016 and 46 2017.[3] 2021 marked the first time in nine years that the vast majority of councils were being contested at the same time.
The elections were scheduled to be held in September 2020, but as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia they were delayed until 4 September 2021. On 24 July 2021, it was announced the elections would again be delayed until 4 December 2021.[4]
Two councils − Fairfield and Penrith − opted to use the services of the Australian Election Company, while all other elections were conducted by the NSW Electoral Commission.[5]
The election for Norfolk Island Regional Council, which was meant to be held at the same time as New South Wales, was also postponed in 2020. It was later scheduled to be held in March 2021, however the council was suspended in February 2021 and eventually dismissed on 6 December 2021.[6]
Lead Greens candidate for Orange, Melanie McDonell, announced on 21 May 2021 she would leave the Greens and stand on a "McDonell Team" independent ticket.[7]
Political parties
The following registered parties contested the elections. This does not include unregistered groups of independents:
- Animal Justice Party
- Greens
- Labor Party
- Liberal Democrats
- Liberal Party
- Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party
- Socialist Alliance
- Sustainable Australia Party
- The Small Business Party
In addition, a number of local government-registered parties also contested the elections.[8]
Party changes before elections
A number of councillors joined or left parties before the 2021 elections.
Results
| Party | Votes | % | Swing[14] | Seats[a] | Change | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independents | 1,392,142 | 33.73 | –2.05 | 776 |  86 | ||
| Labor | 1,071,688 | 26.67 | +1.05 | 188 | 3 | ||
| Liberal | 703,796 | 17.52 | –7.99 | 127 | 13 | ||
| Greens | 355,196 | 8.84 | +0.21 | 65 | 11 | ||
| Independent Liberal | 95,602 | 2.38 | +1.08 | 8 | 3 | ||
| Our Local Community | 72,942 | 1.81 | +0.08 | 10 | 6 | ||
| Clover Moore Independent Team | 47,877 | 1.19 | –1.41 | 4 |  | ||
| Your Northern Beaches | 46,355 | 1.15 | –8.00 | 6 | | ||
| Shoalhaven Independents Group | 27,254 | 0.68 | –0.63 | 4 | 1 | ||
| Lake Mac Independents | 24,922 | 0.62 | –0.48 | 3 | | ||
| Dai Le | 18,774 | 0.47 | +0.47 | 3 | 3 | ||
| Residents and Ratepayers | 16,607 | 0.41 | +0.41 | 4 | 4 | ||
| Independent National | 16,140 | 0.40 | 9 | ||||
| Small Business | 12,244 | 0.30 | +0.30 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Shooters, Fishers and Farmers | 12,053 | 0.30 | +0.12 | 5 | 3 | ||
| Residents First Woollahra | 10,951 | 0.27 | –0.07 | 5 | | ||
| Liverpool Community Independents Team | 10,803 | 0.27 | –0.48 | 2 | | ||
| Animal Justice | 9,724 | 0.24 | +0.20 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Lorraine Wearne Independents | 9,423 | 0.24 | +0.05 | 1 | | ||
| Community First Team | 7,561 | 0.19 | –0.22 | 1 | | ||
| Sustainable Australia | 7,308 | 0.18 | +0.18 | 2 | 2 | ||
| Serving Mosman | 6,870 | 0.17 | –0.09 | 4 | 1 | ||
| Good For Manly | 6,629 | 0.17 | –0.48 | 1 | | ||
| Ben Shields Team | 5,687 | 0.14 | +0.01 | 1 | | ||
| Totally Locally Committed | 4,809 | 0.12 | –0.33 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Liberal Democrats | 4,376 | 0.11 | −0.09 | 0 | 1 | ||
| Strathfield Independents | 4,120 | 0.10 | +0.03 | 2 | 1 | ||
| Nella Hall Independents | 3,298 | 0.09 | –0.07 | 1 | | ||
| Independent Labor | 2,892 | 0.08 | –0.15 | 1 | 3 | ||
| Our Sustainable Future | 2,769 | 0.07 | –0.19 | 1 | | ||
| Socialist Alliance | 2,612 | 0.07 | +0.05 | 0 | | ||
| Australia First | 2,549 | 0.06 | –0.10 | 0 | | ||
| Kogarah Residents Association | 919 | 0.02 | –0.14 | 0 | 1 | ||
| Arts | 536 | 0.01 | +0.01 | 0 | | ||
| Science | 536 | 0.01 | +0.01 | 0 | | ||
| Communist League | 116 | 0.01 | +0.01 | 0 | | ||
| Independent One Nation | 46 | 0.00 | –0.16 | 0 | 1 | ||
| Total | 4,018,048 | 100.00 | – | – | – | ||
| Registered voters / turnout | 4,838,137 | 83.05 | +6.45 | – | – | ||
Council totals
| LGA | Seats (excluding directly-elected mayors)[15] | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labor | Liberal | Greens | Independents[b] | Others | |
| Albury | 1 | Did not contest | 1 | 7 | Did not contest |
| Armidale | 2 | Did not contest | 1 | 8 | Did not contest |
| Ballina | 0 | Did not contest | 2 | 7 | Did not contest |
| Balranald | No election | ||||
| Bathurst | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 9 | Did not contest |
| Bayside | 7 | Did not contest | 1 | 7 | Did not contest |
| Bega Valley | 1 | Did not contest | 1 | 7 | Did not contest |
| Bellingen | 0 | Did not contest | 2 | 4 | Did not contest |
| Berrigan | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 8 | Did not contest |
| Blacktown | 10 | Did not contest | 0 | 5 | Did not contest |
| Bland | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 9 | Did not contest |
| Blayney | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 7 | Did not contest |
| Blue Mountains | 3 | 6 | 2 | 1 | Did not contest |
| Bogan | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 9 | Did not contest |
| Bourke | No election | ||||
| Brewarrina | Did not contest | Did not contest | 1 | 8 | Did not contest |
| Broken Hill | 2 | Did not contest | Did not contest | 8 | Did not contest |
| Burwood | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | Did not contest |
| Byron | 1 | Did not contest | 2 | 5 | Did not contest |
| Cabonne | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 9 | Did not contest |
| Camden | 3 | 4 | Did not contest | 2 | Did not contest |
| Campbelltown | 7 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Canada Bay | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Canterbury-Bankstown | 9 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Carrathool | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 10 | Did not contest |
| Central Coast | No election[c] | ||||
| Central Darling | No election | ||||
| Cessnock | 6 | 3 | Did not contest | 4 | Did not contest |
| Clarence Valley | Did not contest | Did not contest | 1 | 8 | Did not contest |
| Cobar | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 12 | Did not contest |
| Coffs Harbour | 1 | Did not contest | 1 | 6 | 0 |
| Coolamon | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 8 | 1 |
| Coonamble | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 9 | Did not contest |
| Cootamundra-Gundagai | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 9 | Did not contest |
| Cowra | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 9 | Did not contest |
| Cumberland | 8 | Did not contest | 0 | 3 | 4 |
| Dubbo | 3 | Did not contest | Did not contest | 7 | Did not contest |
| Dungog | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 7 | Did not contest |
| Edward River | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 9 | Did not contest |
| Eurobodalla | 1 | Did not contest | 1 | 7 | Did not contest |
| Fairfield | 3 | Did not contest | 0 | 7 | 3 |
| Federation | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 9 | Did not contest |
| Forbes | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 9 | Did not contest |
| Georges River | 5 | 5 | Did not contest | 1 | 4 |
| Gilgandra | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 9 | Did not contest |
| Glen Innes Severn | Did not contest | Did not contest | 1 | 8 | Did not contest |
| Goulburn Mulwaree | 1 | Did not contest | 0 | 7 | 1 |
| Greater Hume | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 9 | Did not contest |
| Griffith | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 11 | Did not contest |
| Gunnedah | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 9 | Did not contest |
| Gwydir | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 9 | Did not contest |
| Hawkesbury | 2 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
| Hay | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 8 | Did not contest |
| Hilltops | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 11 | Did not contest |
| Hornsby | 1 | 6 | 3 | 0 | Did not contest |
| Hunter's Hill | Did not contest | 3 | 0 | 4 | Did not contest |
| Inner West | 8 | Did not contest | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| Inverell | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 9 | Did not contest |
| Junee | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 9 | Did not contest |
| Kempsey | Did not contest | Did not contest | 1 | 7 | Did not contest |
| Kiama | 2 | Did not contest | 2 | 5 | Did not contest |
| Ku-ring-gai | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 10 | Did not contest |
| Kyogle | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 9 | Did not contest |
| Lachlan | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 10 | Did not contest |
| Lake Macquarie | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Lane Cove | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | Did not contest |
| Leeton | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 9 | Did not contest |
| Lismore | 1 | Did not contest | 2 | 6 | 1 |
| Lithgow | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 9 | Did not contest |
| Liverpool | 4 | 5 | 0 | 2 | Did not contest |
| Liverpool Plains | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 7 | Did not contest |
| Lockhart | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 9 | Did not contest |
| Maitland | 4 | 4 | 0 | 5 | Did not contest |
| Mid-Coast | 1 | 2 | 1 | 7 | Did not contest |
| Mid-Western | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 9 | Did not contest |
| Moree Plains | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 9 | Did not contest |
| Mosman | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 3 | 4 |
| Murray River | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 9 | Did not contest |
| Murrumbidgee | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 9 | Did not contest |
| Muswellbrook | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 12 | Did not contest |
| Nambucca Valley | 1 | Did not contest | Did not contest | 8 | Did not contest |
| Narrabri | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 9 | Did not contest |
| Narrandera | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 9 | Did not contest |
| Narromine | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 9 | Did not contest |
| Newcastle | 7 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| North Sydney | 2 | Did not contest | Did not contest | 6 | 2 |
| Northern Beaches | Did not contest | 5 | 2 | 1 | 7 |
| Oberon | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 9 | Did not contest |
| Orange | Did not contest | Did not contest | 1 | 9 | 1 |
| Parkes | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 10 | Did not contest |
| Parramatta | 7 | Did not contest | 1 | 2 | 5 |
| Penrith | 5 | 6 | Did not contest | 4 | Did not contest |
| Port Macquarie-Hastings | Did not contest | Did not contest | 1 | 5 | 2 |
| Port Stephens | 4 | 1 | 0 | 4 | Did not contest |
| Queanbeyan-Palerang | 3 | 2 | 1 | 5 | Did not contest |
| Randwick | 5 | 5 | 4 | 1 | Did not contest |
| Richmond Valley | 1 | Did not contest | Did not contest | 5 | Did not contest |
| Ryde | 5 | 6 | 0 | 1 | Did not contest |
| Shellharbour | 3 | Did not contest | Did not contest | 4 | Did not contest |
| Shoalhaven | 3 | Did not contest | 4 | 2 | 4 |
| Singleton | 1 | Did not contest | Did not contest | 7 | 1 |
| Snowy Monaro | 2 | Did not contest | 1 | 8 | Did not contest |
| Snowy Valleys | Did not contest | Did not contest | 0 | 9 | Did not contest |
| Strathfield | 3 | Did not contest | Did not contest | 1 | 3 |
| Sutherland | 5 | 8 | 0 | 2 | Did not contest |
| Sydney | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Tamworth | 1 | Did not contest | Did not contest | 8 | Did not contest |
| Temora | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 9 | Did not contest |
| Tenterfield | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 10 | Did not contest |
| The Hills | 3 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tweed | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | Did not contest |
| Upper Hunter | Did not contest | Did not contest | 1 | 8 | Did not contest |
| Upper Lachlan | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 9 | Did not contest |
| Uralla | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 9 | Did not contest |
| Wagga Wagga | 2 | Did not contest | 1 | 6 | Did not contest |
| Walcha | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 8 | Did not contest |
| Walgett | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 9 | Did not contest |
| Warren | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 12 | Did not contest |
| Warrumbungle | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 9 | Did not contest |
| Waverley | 4 | 5 | 3 | 0 | Did not contest |
| Weddin | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 9 | Did not contest |
| Wentworth | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 9 | Did not contest |
| Willoughby | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 13 | Did not contest |
| Wingecarribee | No election | ||||
| Wollondilly | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 9 | Did not contest |
| Wollongong | 6 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Woollahra | Did not contest | 8 | 2 | 0 | 5 |
| Yass Valley | Did not contest | Did not contest | 1 | 8 | Did not contest |
Referendums and polls
In addition to the local elections, eight LGAs held referendums on questions relating to electoral structures. An advisory poll on de-amalgamation was also held for Inner West.
The closest result was in Wagga Wagga, where 50.6% voted "No" to directly-electing the mayor.
| LGA | Question | YES | NO | Informal | Turnout | Ref | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | Votes | % | Votes | % | Total | % | |||
| Armidale | "Do you support a reduction in the number of councillors for Armidale Regional Council from eleven to nine?" | 10,891 | 68.9 | 4,913 | 31.1 | 272 | 1.2 | 16,076 | 83.7 | [16] |
| Bega Valley | "Should the Bega Valley Shire have a popularly elected Mayor from 2024?" | 16,507 | 72.7 | 6,192 | 27.3 | 559 | 2.4 | 23,258 | 87.1 | [17] |
| Dubbo | "Currently Dubbo Regional Council is divided into five wards that elect 10 councillors in total; do you favour abolishing this ward system in favour of a single area consisting of all voters that elects 11 councillors?" | 22,087 | 74.6 | 7,524 | 25.4 | 957 | 3.1 | 30,568 | 82.3 | [18] |
| Griffith | "Do you agree that the number of Councillors elected to Griffith City Council be reduced from 12 to 9?" | 10,010 | 71.4 | 4,017 | 28.6 | 531 | 3.6 | 14,558 | 86.7 | [19] |
| "Do you agree that the election of the Mayor to Griffith City Council be changed from popularly elected to elected by Councillors?" | 3,889 | 28.2 | 9,888 | 71.8 | 729 | 5.0 | 14,506 | 86.4 | ||
| Inner West (poll) |
"In May 2016, Ashfield, Leichhardt and Marrickville councils were amalgamated into one local government area by the State Government. Do you support the Inner West local government area being de-amalgamated, so as to restore the former local government areas of Ashfield, Leichhardt and Marrickville?" | 65,126 | 62.5 | 39,093 | 37.5 | 2,731 | 2.6 | 106,950 | 80.7 | [20] |
| Murray River | "Do you wish to remove the three wards currently in place (Moama, Greater Wakool and Greater Murray with three Councillors elected within each ward), within Murray River Council to become an undivided Local Government Area?" | 2,139 | 34.5 | 4,067 | 65.5 | 66 | 1.1 | 6,272 | 71.3 | [21] |
| Ryde | "Do you support a popularly elected Mayor where the voters of the City of Ryde elect the Mayor for a four (4) year term, thereby adopting a thirteen (13) Councillor model (including the Mayor)?" | 49,392 | 76.2 | 15,442 | 23.8 | 1,927 | 2.9 | 66,761 | 87.2 | [22] |
| Wagga Wagga | "The Mayor of Wagga Wagga is currently elected every two (2) years by the nine (9) Councillors. Do you approve of the direct election of the Mayor by the voters of Wagga Wagga, for a four (4) year term, noting this will result in increased election costs each and every election?" | 18,330 | 49.4 | 18,786 | 50.6 | 1,290 | 3.4 | 38,406 | 83.0 | [23] |
| Walcha | "Do you favour the removal of the current ward based system so that all voters select all eight (8) Councillors that represent the Walcha Council area?" | 1,142 | 61.2 | 723 | 38.8 | 19 | 1.0 | 1,884 | 83.0 | [24] |
Aftermath
Elected councillors
Logan Collins was elected to Cootamundra–Gundagai Regional Council at the age of 18, becoming the youngest local councillor in New South Wales history.[25][26]
iVote crash and re-runs
Analysis commissioned by the NSWEC found 55 voters in Singleton, 54 in Shellharbour and 34 voters in Kempsey who attempted to use iVote were prevented from casting their vote.[27] As a result, re-runs were ordered by the Supreme Court of NSW which were held on 30 July 2022 and iVote was not used for the 2023 state election.
