By popular demand, here’s a thread for discussion of the New South Wales council elections. Can’t tell you much about them myself, except that they’re on tomorrow. Antony Green has an index of candidates and the ABC will be publishing results, no doubt in more digestible form than the New South Wales Electoral Commission.
Crap, I need to slow down.
I doubt many timber workers vote Green in Tas.
Ah, but timber and forestry is hardly under the same kind of public scrutiny as coal-mining. But the 30% of people voting Green could just be that anti-coal minority.
hmm i blacktown the greens have bugger all
An 8% swing against ALP in Sydney mayoral election. And the ALP has a better known candidate this time than last!!
I can hardly wait the 2 years until the state election. The ALP could be like the Canadian Progressive Conservative party a decade or so ago (reduced to 2 seats).
yup big swing to clover moore group over all in sydney
The greens appear to be doing very well in inner city areas, it appears that when the ALP primary vote collapses at the 2011 state election, we might well see the greens win some seats in these areas. I live in Campbelltown, I am expecting the ALP vote to hold up relatively well here, although they may lose one or two seats to the Liberals. I wouldn’t expect too much from the greens in outer suburban areas.
Clover Moore must be rigging. 56% of the primary vote and the next candidate is Chris Harris from The Greens way back on 16%. That’s just ridiculous.
Unfortunately that might also impact on the referendum whether to divide into wards or not. Everyone recommended “Yes” except for Moore who said “No”. With only 0.2% of the referendum votes in “No” is in the lead 64%.
I look forward to continuing domination of Redfern by Glebe and Darlinghurst.
again greens and others doing better. the exodus from lib/lab continues
Wards are an ALP ploy… look at the situation in Botany – divided into 2 cllr wards – result = uncontested
Interesting point David, but one of those inner-city seats The Greens would be wanting to pick up in the state election is Sydney and the current position Labor is in is more likely to solidify Clover Moore’s position there rather than swing to The Greens.
greens getting killed in ryde
Steve Annabelle -yep and a less than 2% swing to the Libs. They’ll have to do better than that at the next election in 2 and a half years.
The situation in Botany is not an indication of a problem with wards, but an indication of a problem with Botany. If I remember the details correctly, Botany is one of only two councils in NSW where the votes from the leading ticket in one ward flow on to the next, guaranteeing domination by a single party. I’m not sure if that’s the exact situation but it’s something weird and almost unique.
Oops, make that less than 1%.
I can report continued fireworks in Sydney – must be Moore.
The greens would have little or no chance of picking up Sydney….the old Bligh if Clover stands again in 2011 given her personal profile, although in my view they have a very good chance of picking up Balmain and also Marrickville.
Garry, I don’t think the Libs would expect to get a swing in Sydney. But I am sure they are enjoying seeing Meridith Burgmann get a belting.
The libs will be happy to see innercity seats (Marrickville, Sydney) go to the Greens.
yeah.
considering the complete diaster that is the nsw alp, the libs can’t get a break.
Sorry I forgot Clover already holds Sydney. Must be the Chardonnay.
Greens cementing their positions in Marrickville, Leichardt and are leading overall in Randwick.
Clover Moore still cheating in Sydney.
Ryde has ALP going up 3% (Libs up 33%) and others down 67%. Can someone from Ryde explain this?
To me it means the Libs didn’t run last time Steve. I could be wrong.
When talking about State politics, don’t forget Heffron, the new Planning Minister Kristina Keneally’s seat. It’s considered “safe” Labor but The Greens are only 2% behind the Libs on first count. If the council elections are any indication, it isn’t unlikely that The Greens would pick it up on Lib preferences.
gary.
yup. thats what it is
Ryde does seem to be an anomaly in terms of losing Green votes and gaining Labor votes.
In Blacktown Fifth Ward (one of the most economically deprived areas in NSW that is ignored by all major parties equally) with 20% in – ALP 60%
Go figure
Burwood with 10% has an 11% swing to Labor, a 17% swing to Liberals and a 10% swing to The Greens. Go figure.
Blue Mtns City looking very bad for the ALP trailing in 3rd place or worse
Heffron is demographically quite different to Balmain, Sydney and Marrickville. The ALP primary vote was well above 50% at the 2007 election meaning preferences are meaningless. I think you would have to see the ALP’s state wide primary vote fall well below 30% before the greens could be considered a realistic chance.
Greens might manage to get 6 of the 12 positions in Marrickville as well. Primary vote is down a tad in Leichardt but I still think they’ll manage 6 with Labor help. So my estimate so far is two Green controlled councils up from 0 last election.
want weirdness…look at auburn
Very early figs in Auburn
Hmm, I was basing my punt on an at least 8% swing away from Labor in Heffron which would definitely put it the air and if around 60-70% of those votes went The Greens it’d be a close contest between the two. But I’m probably being too optimistic.
10% isn’t that early.
What’s weird is a 10% informal. That’s very high. Something must be up. I’m sure the good people of Aurbun haven’t forgotten how to vote.
The ALP vote is holding up very well in Campelltown, although some of their strongest booths like Airds North and Claymore have now come through. Only a -1.2% swing against the ALP at this stage.
Ah, we left out Ashfield!
Only a tiny swing away from Labor but 12% to The Greens.
@Oz 129
Greens have been in power in Randwick in a so-called “unholy alliance” with the Liberals.
The good people of Auburn are probably not used to voting or even if they are – not in English. A large percentage come from Middle East (eg. Iraq etc). I suspect it is just lack of knowledge not a deliberate act.
Wow Marrickville’s looking to be completely dominated by The Greens and Labor, with a Green majority and couple of independents.
Disappointing night for GRN in Lake Macq where there were hopes…
Does anyone know what the quotas on the ABC website mean? They seem to add to 4, even when 3 councillors are being elected.
Looking at Sydney is depressing. I’m not so much against Clover Moore’s policies, but seeing a candidate win by that much just seems un-democratic. Unless it’s your candidate, of course.
At least the referendum race has tightened up a bit.
Labor has polled 18% for Mayor of Newcastle. Dear me.
Has democracy been abolished in Woollongong and Broken Hill?
ALP vote holding up in Fairfield no doubt much to relief of the anointed one who is slated to replace Reba. (who she? – ed)
They should pick up one or two, albertross?
4% in at Manly and ALP trailing LIB and GRN on 5%
Wow, Greens outpolling Labor in Waverly as well.
Adam, Wollongong council along with Port Macquarie-Hastings were sacked earlier this year. Dunno what happened in Broken Hill.
Huge comeback for The Greens in Cessnock, now trailing Labor 25-32.
Maybe only of interest to me, as a local but…
http://www.abc.net.au/elections/nsw/2008/council/?page=Hurstville . My local council.
Labor backlash is somewhat expected for obvious reasons…however, the result for the Unity party is surprising. Heck its more than Labor.
For those who don’t know, Unity is a minor party formed in reaction to Hanson’s comments about Asians. Resultantly multiculturalism is its main platform. It is also the case that it’s members are all Asian, and it core base are Asians. It was always been Labor-supporting in its history (Perception that Libs condone Hansonism/dog whistle politic left deep suspicions about anything with the Liberal party),
Which makes it even more surprising that such a large swing is given to them… could it be some of the Labor vote has spilled to them, outside their traditional base?