2024 Lake Macquarie City Council election
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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14 September 2024
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All 13 seats on Lake Macquarie City Council 7 seats needed for a majority | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Registered | 166,305[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Turnout | 85.1% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Mayor | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Turnout | 85.2% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The 2024 Lake Macquarie City Council election was held on 14 September 2024 to elect a mayor and twelve councillors to the City of Lake Macquarie.[2] The election was held as part of the statewide local government elections in New South Wales.[3]
Labor Party candidate Adam Shultz was elected mayor with 60.1% of the two-candidate-preferred vote, following the retirement of incumbent Kay Fraser.[4] However, Labor lost its narrow majority on the council after the election of one independent, while the Liberal Party and Lake Mac Independents retained three seats each.[5]
On 28 July 2023, Lake Mac Independents councillor Luke Cubis resigned, creating a vacancy in West Ward.[6] His seat was not filled before the election after councillors voted unanimously against having a by-election.[7]
In February 2024, the Liberal Party's Nick Jones was removed as a councillor for East Ward after missing three consecutive council meetings.[8][9]
The boundaries of Lake Macquarie's three wards changed prior to the 2024 election.[10] East Ward expanded to add parts of Warners Bay, while West Ward moved to include Barnsley and Holmesville.[2] Additionally, North Ward gained Boolaroo, Lakelands, Macquarie Point and Speers Point.[2]
Electoral system
Like in all other New South Wales local government areas (LGAs), Lake Macquarie City Council elections use optional preferential voting.[11] Under this system, voters are only required to vote for one candidate or group, although they can choose to preference other candidates.[12] Lake Macquarie was one of 37 LGAs to have a direct mayoral election in 2024.[2]
All elections for councillor positions are elected using proportional representation.[13] Lake Macquarie has an Australian Senate-style ballot paper with above-the-line and below-the-line voting.[14] The council is divided into three wards, each electing four councillors.[2]
The election was conducted by the New South Wales Electoral Commission (NSWEC).[15][16]
