2016 Norfolk Island local election

Last updated

2016 Norfolk Island local election
Flag of Norfolk Island.svg
  2013 28 May 2016 2020  
 First partySecond party
 
IND
Liberal Placeholder.png
LeaderN/A Dave Porter
Party Independents Liberal
Last election8 seats1 seat
Seats won41
Seat changeDecrease2.svg 4Steady2.svg
Popular vote795147
Percentage84.39%15.61%

Resulting Mayor

Robin Adams
Independent

The 2016 Norfolk Island local election was held on 28 May 2016 to elect the Norfolk Island Regional Council, the local government body of Norfolk Island.

Contents

This was the first election for the council since the Norfolk Island Legislative Assembly was abolished in 2015 as part of the removal of Norfolk Island's semi-self-governing status. [1]

Following the election, Robin Adams was elected mayor through a vote of councillors at the formal establishment of the council on 1 July 2016.

Background

Norfolk Island Regional Council is subject to the state-level legislation of New South Wales. Unlike most local government bodies in Australia, the council delivers many Commonwealth services to residents in addition to local-level services such as land planning and emergency management. [2]

The council has five members, down from the eight members that the Assembly had. [3]

The election was conducted by the Australian Election Company and results were finalised on 31 May 2016. Unlike the previous Assembly elections, a quota was used, replacing a variation of cumulative voting known as "weighted first past the post". [4]

Results

PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Quota 158
Independent Rod Buffett (elected 1)19020.17
Independent Lisle Snell (elected 2)14915.81
Liberal Dave Porter (elected 3)14715.61
Independent Robin Adams (elected 5)10711.36
Independent John McCoy (elected 4)9710.30
Independent David Buffett 909.55
Independent Lyle Tavener667.01
Independent Tim Brown384.03
Independent Kim Davies293.08
Independent Graham White293.08
Total formal votes942100.0

Count progression

2016 Norfolk Island local election
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
123456
Independent Rod Buffett20.17190     
Independent Lisle Snell 15.82149151 161   
Liberal Dave Porter 15.61147155 156 164  
Independent Robin Adams 11.36107109 113 119 133 137
Independent John McCoy10.3097101 105 111 123 144
Independent David Buffett 9.559093 96 100 106 124
Independent Lyle Tavener7.016674 79 80 87  
Independent Tim Brown4.033840 41 44   
Independent Graham White3.082931 36    
Independent Kim Davies3.082930     
Exhausted votes   5 10 54
Quota: 158  

    Aftermath

    Three of the five councillors elected said they supported the work of Norfolk Island People for Democracy, which supports political self-determination for the territory. Former Chief Minister David Buffett was among the unsuccessful candidates at the election. [3] [4]

    On 4 February 2021, Assistant Minister for Regional Development and Territories Nola Marino suspended the council and appointed Mike Colreavy as an Interim Administrator, following the postponement of the 2020 election. On 6 December 2021, the council was formally dismissed and Colreavy became Administrator for a period of three years, with the next election scheduled to be held in 2024. [5]

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    References

    1. "Norfolk Island self-government to be replaced by local council". The Guardian.
    2. "About Council". Norfolk Island Regional Council. 9 December 2016. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
    3. 1 2 Strom, Marcus. "Norfolk Island elects council that supports self-determination". Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 18 June 2018.
    4. 1 2 "Norfolk Island Regional Council" (PDF). Australian Election Company. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 October 2023.
    5. "Canberra dumps Norfolk Island Regional Council". RNZ.