Why replacing local councillors is setting Victorians back $180,000
January 14, 2026 — 5:30am
Victorian ratepayers are facing a financial burden of hundreds of thousands of dollars when councillors quit their posts early, due to a significant increase in byelection costs. This shift in local government structures has led to a 100-fold rise in the price of filling vacancies, from approximately $1000 to between $130,000 and $180,000.
The Age has revealed that the recent byelections in Darebin, Whittlesea, and Wodonga have resulted in these substantial unbudgeted expenses. These costs are a consequence of the transition to single-member wards in most councils, which came into effect during the 2024 local council elections.
Under the previous system, larger wards were represented by multiple councillors. In the event of a vacancy, the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) used a 'countback' method, where existing votes were used to elect the next candidate at a relatively low cost of around $1000. However, the new single-member ward structure, where each area is represented by only one councillor, has led to a legislative prohibition on countbacks due to the use of preferential voting over proportional systems.
As a result, when a vacancy occurs, a byelection is required, incurring significant costs. The VEC confirms that byelection costs for local councils in 2025 ranged from $131,327 in Darebin to $183,537 in Whittlesea, with Wodonga at $140,000. These expenses are a burden on local ratepayers and have sparked criticism of the controversial changes introduced by former local government minister Adem Somyurek.
Tanya Tescher, secretary of the Victorian Ratepayers and Residents Association, argues that it is unfair to shift the cost of byelections onto local ratepayers and calls for a legislative overhaul to revert to the previous system. She also suggests that those removed for bad behavior should contribute to the bill.
In Whittlesea, an August byelection triggered by a scandal involving vote tampering cost $183,537. The City of Whittlesea CEO, Craig Lloyd, stated that the council covered the expenses, while the VEC recovered an additional $39,292 to contest the initial election outcome. Another byelection in Whittlesea is imminent after councillor Nic Brooks resigned this week, citing workload issues.
The high costs of byelections have also led to decreased voter turnout in single-ward contests. In Darebin, the August byelection saw a 76.22% turnout, down from 81.57% during the 2024 general election. Similarly, the Whittlesea byelection in the Lalor Ward had a 74.33% participation rate, compared to 80.41% in 2024.
The shift to single-member wards has broader implications for local governance and communities. Councillors like John McIlrath in Bendigo and Hannah Seymour in Wodonga have resigned due to the increased workload and personal reasons, respectively. The single-member ward structure has led to a significant increase in meeting hours, reading materials, and community engagement, causing some councillors to reconsider their roles.
The push for single wards was initiated in 2019 and was supported by the Labor Party in the Victorian parliament, following the sacking of Adem Somyurek from the ministry due to branch-stacking allegations. Beyond the financial burden, the changes have resulted in decreased competition in some areas, with 47 candidates securing council seats without a single vote cast due to a lack of opponents.
Despite the challenges, the Victorian government spokesperson argues that single-member wards enhance councillor accountability and council representation. However, the high costs and potential for decreased competition raise concerns about the effectiveness of this system. The VEC acknowledges the complexity of byelections, emphasizing the need for cost minimization through simultaneous scheduling, but also highlights the extensive tasks involved in byelections compared to countbacks.
