NSW council left without mayor after election rule gets reversed mid-draw
General manager mistakenly told councillors the drawn name would be eliminated, not elected, reversing the law.
Clarence Valley in northern NSW held a tie-break ballot for mayor this week between councillors Peter Johnstone and Ray Smith. Each had four votes.
The council's general manager, Laura Black, wrote both names on pieces of paper for a random draw. Laura Black wrongly told those present the person drawn would be eliminated, not elected.
Smith's name came out, so Johnstone was announced the winner. NSW law says the opposite: in a final mayoral tie-break, the name drawn is the one elected, not eliminated.
Johnstone resigned as mayor within hours, pending a fresh vote. The council is seeking legal advice on fixing the error.
- 4 votes each
- Vote count
- Clarence Valley, NSW
- Location
- Laura Black
- General manager
Why it mattersElection procedures exist to avoid confusion and unfairness. A botched tie-break undermines trust in local democracy.
AustraliaNSW local councils must ensure returning officers know the rules. This bungle highlights why clear procedures matter in public elections.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 5 d ago
