Joondalup Mayor Advocates for Compulsory Voting in Local Government Elections
Joondalup Mayor Daniel Kingston is strongly urging the Western Australian State Government to proceed with implementing compulsory voting in local government elections, regardless of the outcomes from ongoing sector-wide consultation processes. Mayor Kingston has called on Local Government Minister Hannah Beazley to demonstrate courage and push forward with these significant electoral reforms.
Current Electoral Landscape and Proposed Reforms
The Western Australian Local Government Association is currently gathering feedback from all local councils regarding anticipated electoral reforms. These proposed changes include introducing compulsory voting and implementing full-spill elections every four years. Speaking at a recent council meeting, Mayor Kingston emphasized that local government elections are in dire need of reform and expressed his firm support for both compulsory voting and regular full-spill elections.
The City of Joondalup council has formally endorsed this position. Mayor Kingston highlighted that voluntary voting in local government elections can sometimes enable special interest groups to gain disproportionate influence. "I don't think that we should have voluntary voting in local government elections. I think it causes problems all the way through the sector," Mr Kingston stated.
Voter Turnout Concerns and State Comparisons
Recent voter turnout statistics reveal concerning trends. The 2025 local government election saw only 29.6 percent of eligible electors participating, a slight decrease from the 31.2 percent turnout recorded in 2023. Western Australia and South Australia remain the only Australian states that have not implemented compulsory voting for local government elections.
Mayor Kingston believes that voluntary voting systems can lead to situations where "minority interests can be leading the way in which local governments allocate funds and spend money." He expressed concern that council decisions sometimes prioritize satisfying particular smaller community groups rather than representing broader community interests.
Call for Ministerial Action and Electoral Integrity
Mayor Kingston has advised Minister Beazley to approach the WALGA consultation results with "a large grain of salt" and proceed with implementing reforms regardless of sector feedback. "I think the minister should be brave, and I think the minister should go ahead, and regardless of what the consultation from the sector says, she should impose compulsory voting anyway," he asserted.
The mayor emphasized that compulsory voting would help prevent political extremes and reduce the influence of extremist elements in local government. He also believes the local government sector would benefit from adopting electoral practices similar to state and federal elections, including in-person voting rather than postal ballots and the elimination of candidate profiles.
Issues with Candidate Profiles and Recent Controversies
Mayor Kingston expressed particular concern about candidate profiles, which he believes can easily mislead the public and should therefore be eliminated from local government elections. "I think Joondalup is a good example of candidate profiles that can be problematic," he noted, explaining that misleading information in profiles can result in unfair election outcomes.
The city has experienced difficulties with candidate profiles in recent months. Former Joondalup councillor Nige Jones, who resigned following scrutiny over an attempted strip club drinks expense claim, was found by the city to have breached the councillors' code of conduct in a separate behavioral complaint. The city determined that Jones had misrepresented his military service length and his recognition in the Western Australia Local Hero category of the Australian of the Year Awards.
Jones was required to provide a written apology to the mayor by February 21, 2026, but the city reported receiving no apology by the deadline. Mr Jones has consistently denied allegations that he embellished his military record.
Broader Context of Electoral Reform
Local Government Minister Hannah Beazley has indicated plans for additional major reforms to local council elections, building upon new legislation passed in 2023. Mayor Kingston's advocacy comes at a critical time as the state considers fundamental changes to how local democracy functions in Western Australia.
The debate over compulsory voting in local government elections continues to evolve, with proponents arguing it would increase democratic participation and legitimacy, while opponents raise concerns about individual freedom and the practical implementation of such measures.
