The final results from the Melbourne City Council election show that the
Socialist Party/Putting People First ticket finished 13th out of 97
candidates for 7 council positions with 1,292 votes. We were only 150 votes
away from winning a seat. We were knocked out in round 120 of voting. There
were 128 rounds in total.
There were about 35,000 votes cast.
Socialist Alliance were on 250 votes when knocked out, with their
preferences going to us.
The Greens retained their one seat, helped by our preferences (we gave no 2
to Socialist Alliance and no. 3 to Greens).
Our result is the closest socialists have come to winning an elected
position in Australia since the 1950s. What is even more impressive is that
there is an outrageous voting system, introduced by the Jeff Kennett in the
1990s, and not replaced by the current Labor government, of corporations
getting two votes, and residents getting only one vote. Therefore if you
own ten corporations you get 20 votes, and another 1 vote if you live in
the electorate!
On top of this the SP has never stood in this area before (Melbourne's CBD
and inner west, north and eastern suburbs). This area makes up the centre
and west of the Federal seat of Melbourne, where the SP will be standing in
the upcoming federal election. The east side is made up of areas where the
SP won 12% of the vote, 4,200 first preferences, in the last state election.
Thanks to the unions and individuals who helped with this campaign. 14,000
were distributed, street meetings held and various other activities
organised.
Campaign Organiser Denise Dudley is preparing a full report. Email us if
you want a copy.
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