ACT puts democracy back in local government

ACT Local Government spokesperson Cameron Luxton has welcomed the Government’s decision to ensure only elected members can hold voting rights on council committees, delivering a key ACT policy and adopting the substance of his Member’s Bill.

“Today is a massive win for ratepayers and local democracy. ACT has been pushing hard to close this anti-democratic loophole, and I’m pleased Local Government Minister Simon Watts has finally taken up a version of my Member's Bill to get it done,” says Mr Luxton.

“Our position has always been simple. If you haven’t faced the voters, you shouldn’t have a vote on how their money is spent.

“Across New Zealand, councils have increasingly handed voting rights to unelected appointees. Whether they represent iwi, industry groups, youth councils, or any other interest, giving unelected people the power to make decisions on behalf of ratepayers undermines democratic accountability.

“ACT’s local councillors have been leading the fight against this trend on the ground.

“In the Far North, ACT Councillor Davina Smolders exposed plans to give 10 unelected iwi representatives voting rights on a committee of just 16 members. As she pointed out, that creates governance structures where those making decisions are not accountable to the people paying the bills.

“In Otago, ACT Councillor Robbie Byars has been standing up against proposals to grant voting rights to unelected mana whenua representatives.

“While our councillors have been fighting these battles around council tables, I have been applying the pressure in Wellington. I drafted a Member’s Bill to strip these voting rights from the Local Government Act and spent months persistently lobbying Simon Watts to adopt it. Today, the Minister is adopting this change and making it the law of the land.

“Councils remain free to seek advice and input from whoever they choose. Consultation is important. But when it comes to making decisions and casting votes, accountability matters.

“The people making decisions on behalf of ratepayers should be the people ratepayers can vote out.

“This is what ACT brings to Government. We identify problems, campaign on solutions, and deliver results.

“Local democracy works best when those making decisions are accountable to the people they serve. Today’s announcement restores that principle and puts ratepayers back where they belong, at the centre of local government.”

Editor’s Note:

Cameron Luxton’s letter to Local Government Minister Simon Watts from September last year can be read here.