Western Australia's Local Government minister has praised the first-past-the-post (FPTP) voting system used in local government elections as a successful transtion from proportional representation (PPV).

 

“It is a fairer, simpler system which makes the electorate process easier to understand and more accessible to the wider community,” Mr Castrilli said in a statement.

 

 

The minister said the local government elections were the first time the new first-past-the-post (FPTP) system had been used following the passing of legislation in State Parliament earlier this year.

 

FPTP replaced PPV after legislation was introduced by the previous Labor government.

 

“The return to the FPTP system of voting was in response to requests from the local government sector and we are pleased to have achieved a smooth transition to the new system in time for the local government elections,” Mr Castrilli said.

 

Mr Castrilli also welcomed the 522 councillors and mayors elected to represent their areas in the elections.

 

“I am pleased with the interest shown in the 2009 elections and congratulate the candidates on their success,” Mr Castrilli said.

 

“I also acknowledge those candidates who were not successful and thank them for offering to stand for election.

 

“It is their active participation that ensures the validity of our democratic system.

 

“This is an exciting time to be a councillor given the significant changes under way through reform of the local government sector and I look forward to working with the newly elected mayors and councillors as we move ahead with the reform process.”

 

Also made available for the elections was specialist election counting software, jointly developed by the Department of Local Government and the Western Australian Electoral Commission.

 

The CountWA software, updated following the introduction of the FPTP system of voting, was distributed to all local governments with contested elections, providing councils with a faster method of determining the results of elections.