City of Parramatta Council decided to review its method of electing the Lord Mayor, to see if the community's preference has changed over time.
The first mention of investigating the transition to a popularly elected mayor was made in a Notice of Motion at a Council meeting on 26 April 2021.
On 10 May 2021 a report was presented, and Council resolved to consult with the community on the option of a popularly elected Lord Mayor.
In 2022, Council conducted interviews with residents to begin the process of consultation.
The survey fulfils Council's commitment to broad community consultation before making a decision.
The survey itself is not binding, Council will consider the community’s feedback and other factors before deciding whether to ask residents this question in a Referendum at the next local government election (September 2024).
The next opportunity to hold a Referendum is in 2028, and if passed, a popularly elected Lord Mayor would be introduced from 2032.
Thank you to everyone who participated in this consultation. Please follow this page for future updates.
Local councils provide key infrastructure, facilities and services to local residents and are integral to building stronger and more connected communities.
Councillors, including the Lord Mayor, represent their local community’s needs, wants and aspirations and make important decisions on behalf of their local residents and businesses.
Here are just some of the Lord Mayor's responsibilities taken from the Councillor's Handbook:
- Be the leader of the council and a leader in the local community
- Advance community cohesion and promote civic awareness
- Be the principal member and spokesperson of the governing body, including representing the views of the council as to its local priorities
- Ensure that meetings of the council are conducted efficiently, effectively and in accordance with the code of meeting practice and the Act
- Promote the effective and consistent implementation of the strategic plans, programs and policies of the council
- Ensure adequate opportunities and mechanisms for engagement between the council and the local community
- Carry out the civic and ceremonial functions of the mayoral office
- Represent the council on regional organisations and at inter-governmental forums at regional, State and Commonwealth level
Yes. The Lord Mayor and Councillor annual fees for the period 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2023 are:
- $114,770
- $35,520
Therefore the Lord Mayor’s combined annual fee is $150,290.
The stipend is the same for popularly elected Mayors.
The Lord Mayor and Councillors also started receiving superannuation contribution payments from 1 July 2022, in accordance with Section 254B of the Local Government Act 1993.
The Local Government Act 1993 gives Councils two options for electing a Lord Mayor:
- At the moment, residents of the City of Parramatta LGA elect 15 Councillors across five wards within the LGA. These 15 Councillors are then responsible for electing the Lord Mayor for a two-year period. After the two-year period, the Councillors may choose to either re-elect the existing Lord Mayor or elect another Councillor to the position of Lord Mayor.
- Under a structure where the Lord Mayor is popularly elected by the people, residents of the City of Parramatta LGA would elect Councillors AND the Lord Mayor. The Lord Mayor will be elected across the entire LGA for the duration of the election term (generally four years) and cannot be elected as a Councillor.
The main difference is, Councillors who are appointed to be Lord Mayor serve for two years.
Mayors that are elected by the voters in an area serve a four-year term.
Changing the way the Lord Mayor is elected would require reorganisation of the number of wards and Councillors in the City of Parramatta.
A Referendum is a question put to voters at an election. Referendums are required when governments want to change an aspect of their constitution.
A Referendum is required to change the structure of Council elections. The rules are defined in the Local Government Act 1993.
Under section 16 of the Local Government Act 1993, a council must obtain the approval of its electors at a Constitutional Referendum to do each of the following:
- divide a council area into wards or abolish wards
- change the number of councillors
- change the method of electing the mayor
- change the method of election for councillors where the council’s area is divided into wards.
Council estimates additional costs of approximately $160,000 to include a Referendum at the next Local Government Election.
Popularly elected mayors have the same prescribed functions as a mayor elected by councillors. The role of a mayor is prescribed under section 226 of the Act.
A popularly elected mayor holds office for 4 years. Mayors elected by councillors only hold office for 2 years. (see section 230 of the Act)
Yes. A person can be a candidate for election as mayor and a candidate for election as a councillor at the same time (see section 283 of the Act) but may only be elected to one civic office.
A popularly elected Lord Mayor is directly elected by the electors and cannot be removed from their office by the other councillors.
Section 234 of the Local Government Act 1993 sets out the circumstances in which a vacancy will automatically occur in the office of the Lord Mayor. These include where the Lord Mayor is disqualified from holding civic office. The grounds for disqualification from holding civic office are set out in section 275 of the Act.
There are no financial advantages for mayoral candidates.
Visit the NSW Electoral Commission website, enter your residential address and it will list your Council area and ward.
If Parramatta, then you live in our City and you are welcome to fill in our survey.
