Local_Government_Act_2020
Local Government Act 2020
Act of the Parliament of Victoria, Australia
The Local Government Act 2020 was a significant statute in Victoria, Australia, notable for its impact on the electoral systems of local councils in Victoria.[1] The Act, which the Victorian Government described as the "most ambitious and comprehensive reform of local government in Victoria for 30 years," will see a large number of multi-member wards replaced with single-member wards.[1][2]
Reviews were undertaken for the number of councillors, number of councillors per ward and the exact boundaries of those wards for 39 of Victoria's 79 councils.[2]
The Act was introduced on 17 June 2019 by the then-Minister for Local Government, Adem Somyurek.[3] It passed parliament on 17 March 2020, and received Royal Assent days later on 24 March.[1][4]
The Act has been criticised for its banning of proportional representation for most councils, and the consequential likely negative impact on the ability for women and minority groups to be elected.[5]