1983 New South Wales local elections

The 1983 New South Wales local elections were held on 24 September 1983 to elect the councils of the local government areas (LGAs) of New South Wales, Australia.[3][4][5]

1983 New South Wales local elections

← 1980 24 September 1983[1][2] 1987 →

Background

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Electoral structure changes

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A number of councils had their electoral structures altered prior to the 1983 elections. Bogan was reduced from ten to nine,[6] Tumut was reduced from ten to eight,[7] Warren increased from ten to twelve[8] and Wellington increased from ten to eleven.[9]

Gloucester, Kyogle, Murray, Murrumbidgee and Tallaganda were all increased from eight to nine councillors.[10][11][12][13][14]

Deferred elections

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In August 1983, local government minister Lin Gordon announced that elections for 13 councils would be postponed until 10 December 1983 while possible amalgamations were considered.[15] The City of Sydney and the municipalities of Ashfield, Botany, Burwood, Canterbury, Concord, Drummoyne, Leichhardt, Marrickville, Randwick, Strathfield, Waverley and Woollahra were all affected.[15]

A number of these councils appear to have eventually gone ahead with elections as planned on 24 September.[16][17] However, Ashfield, Canterbury, Leichhardt and Sydney did not, with their elections moved to 14 April 1984.[18][19][20][21]

Results

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The Liberal Party, which contested a number of LGAs for the first time, had a swing towards them.[16] In Wollongong, one member of the Active Community Team (ACT) was elected, while A Women in Local Government (WILGO) was unsuccessful.[16]

In Blue Mountains, the Communist Party of Australia unsuccessfully contested Ward 1 and Ward 4, receiving 1.91% and 1.94% of the vote respectively.[16][22]

Ted Mack was re-elected as mayor of North Sydney with 70% of the vote.[16]

Referendums

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At least one referendum was held.

LGA Question YES NO Informal Turnout Ref
Votes % Votes % Votes % Total %
Bega Valley "Should Bega Valley shire be declared a nuclear-free zone?" (exact wording unknown) 6,056 55.62 4,832 44.38 [16][23]

References

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  1. ^ "Candidates for council". Australian Jewish Times. 7 July 1983. p. 20. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  2. ^ "No politics in council". Nota. 1 October 1983. p. 26. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  3. ^ "27 to stand for council". Nota. 1 September 1983. p. 1. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  4. ^ "Seven new faces voted to council". Nota. 1 October 1983. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  5. ^ "SEEKING MAROUBRA ELECTION". Australian Jewish Times. 20 October 1983. p. 23. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  6. ^ "LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT, 1919.—PROCLAMATION". Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales. 29 July 1983. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  7. ^ "LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT, 1919.—PROCLAMATION". Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales. 13 May 1983. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  8. ^ "LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT, 1919.—PROCLAMATION". Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales. 29 July 1983. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  9. ^ "LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT, 1919.—PROCLAMATION". Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales. 22 July 1983. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  10. ^ "LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT, 1919.—PROCLAMATION". Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales. 22 July 1983. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  11. ^ "LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT, 1919.—PROCLAMATION". Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales. 22 July 1983. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  12. ^ "LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT, 1919.—PROCLAMATION". Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales. 12 August 1983. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  13. ^ "LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT, 1919.—PROCLAMATION". Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales. 29 July 1983. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  14. ^ "LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT, 1919.—PROCLAMATION". Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales. 29 July 1983. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  15. ^ a b "Minister defers date for Council elections". Australian Jewish Times. 11 August 1983. p. 4. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  16. ^ a b c d e f "Swing to Libs and progressives in local govt poll". Tribune. 28 September 2023. p. 15. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  17. ^ "Labor toys with city councils". Tribune. 21 September 1983. p. 3. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  18. ^ "LOCAL GOVERNMENT (ELECTIONS) AMENDMENT ACT, 1983.—PROCLAMATION". Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales. 11 November 1983. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  19. ^ "CITY POLL". Australian Jewish Times. 22 March 1984. p. 3. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  20. ^ "Mundey runs for council". Tribune. 28 March 1984. p. 3. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  21. ^ "Despite win, problems remain for NSW Labor". Tribune. 28 March 1984. p. 3. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  22. ^ "Communist candidates in Blue Mountains". Tribune. 21 September 1983. p. 3. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  23. ^ "Bega residents support nuclear free zone". Tribune. 30 November 1983. p. 23. Retrieved 17 September 2024.