Local Government Elections

Mr ELLIS (Narungga) (14:43): My question is to the Minister for Local Government. Does the minister think that ratepayers should have to pay for a local government election where one doesn't actually occur? Mr Speaker, with your leave, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

Mr ELLIS: The Copper Coast Council only had one nomination for mayor, and fewer nominations for councillors than positions required, yet still received a bill from the Electoral Commission for $35,000 for an election that didn't occur. Included in that bill was an amount for printing ballot papers, postal ballot return and costs for a deputy returning officer. Should the ratepayers have to foot the bill?

The Hon. G.G. BROCK (Stuart—Minister for Local Government, Minister for Regional Roads, Minister for Veterans Affairs) (14:43): I thank the member for Narungga for his question. The Electoral Commission of South Australia ran the elections across all of South Australia. That is the first I have heard of that issue, so I am happy to talk to the member for Narungga and have a bit more investigation of it. Certainly, local governments across all of South Australia were run by the Electoral Commission of South Australia independently of the government, but I am happy to have a chat to the member for Narungga to get more information.