2016 Victorian local elections

2016 Victorian local elections

← 2012 22 October 2016 2020 →

First party Second party Third party   IND SOC Leader N/A Greg Barber No leader Party Independents Greens The Socialists Last election 18 seats Did not exist Seats before 16 1 Seats won 29 1 Seat change 13   Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party   SA RUAP LDP Leader No leader None No leader Party Socialist Alliance Rise Up Liberal Democrats Last election 1 seat 1 seat 0 Seats before 1 1 0 Seats won 1 1 1 Seat change 1   Seventh party   CA Leader Russell Bate Party Country Alliance Last election 1 Seats before 1 Seats won 0 Seat change 1

The 2016 Victorian local elections were held on 22 October 2016 to elect the councils of the 79 local government areas in Victoria, Australia.^[1][2]

The elections saw the largest-ever amount of Greens councillors elected, with the party increasing their local government representatives from 17 to 29.^[3] The Labor Party and Liberal Party did not endorse any candidates.^[4]

A number of councillors joined or left parties before the 2016 elections.

Party			Votes	%	Swing	Seats	Change
	Independents
	Labor
	Liberal
	Burwood Liberals
	Greens					29	11
	Independent National
	Team Doyle		27,116			3
	Together Melbourne		6,578			1
	Phil Cleary Means Business		5,667			1
	Stephen Mayne T.I.A.E.		3,666			0
	Team Morgan - A City That Works		3,557			1
	Strengthening Melbourne		1,905			0
	Listening To Locals		1,718			0
	An Indigenous Voice On Council		1,534			1	1
	Serving Melbourne With Integrity		1,519			0
	The Light On The Hill Team		960			0
	The Heritage Agenda		816			0
	Melburnian Voice		808			0
	Science		82			0
	Liberal Democrats					1	1
	The Socialists					1	1
	Rise Up Australia					1
	Socialist Alliance					1
	Animal Justice					0
	Independent Labor

On 8 November, Melbourne councillor-elect Brooke Wandin (An Indigenous Voice On Council) stood down from her position amid an investigation by the Local Government Investigations and Compliance Inspectorate into her eligibility.^[6] Wandin and former councillor Richard Foster were later charged with electoral fraud, with prosecutors alleging Wandin did not live at the Kensington address she had nominated when registering for election.^[7] Both parties plead guilty to charges of electoral fraud; Foster received a 12-month good behaviour bond, while Wandin was placed onto a diversion program. Nic Frances Gilley was declared elected in Wandin's place.^[8]

Additionally in Melbourne, Phil Cleary Means Business councillor Michael Caiafa lost his seat in March 2017 after it was determined he was not duly elected. Team Doyle's Susan Riley was declared elected in his place.^[9]

In April 2017, hundreds of people reported receiving infringement notices for allegedly having not voted, despite claiming that they had.^[10]

The Victorian Electoral Commission held a number of by-elections and countbacks to fill vacancies on councils after the 2016 elections up until the 2020 elections.

Casey City Council was sacked on 18 February 2020 before two countbacks could occur.^[11]