House of Assembly Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1) 55 1 Parliament of South Australia House of Assembly published Ministerial Statement Ministerial Statement Electoral Commission's 2022 Council Elections Report Electoral Commission's 2022 Council Elections Report The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS House of Assembly Cheltenham Minister for Trade and Investment Minister for Local Government Minister for Veterans' Affairs The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS (Cheltenham—Minister for Trade and Investment, Minister for Local Government, Minister for Veterans' Affairs) (14:01): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement. Leave granted. The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS House of Assembly Cheltenham Minister for Trade and Investment Minister for Local Government Minister for Veterans' Affairs The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: Today, I am pleased to table the Electoral Commission's 2022 Council Elections Report, which provides a comprehensive review of the elections conducted for 66 of South Australia's 67 councils. I would like to thank the Electoral Commissioner for his hard work in both undertaking the November 2022 elections to elect representatives to a total of 683 possible positions and preparing this important report. I note that the Electoral Commission has been required to undertake a number of significant activities since the last periodic local government elections, including the inaugural elections for the South Australian Voice followed by by-elections for the state seats of Dunstan and Black. Whilst there is no legislative requirement for the commissioner to prepare a report on local government elections, commissioners have periodically done so in order to inform the state parliament and the South Australian community more widely on all election matters and to identify potential improvements to the conduct and integrity of local government elections. In his report, the commissioner has made 19 recommendations, which the government will now consider. In conjunction with the Local Government Participation and Elections Review, the government will consider measures that may strengthen the integrity and the efficiency of council elections. I thank the Local Government Association and individual councils for their ongoing constructive engagement with the Electoral Commission of South Australia. I also commend the LGA and councils for their engagement with government to see local government elections that are both fit for purpose and truly engaging of local communities.