Ms PATTEN (Northern Metropolitan): My constituency question today is for the Minister for Local Government, Mr Leane, and it’s a very simple question too.
Candidates and constituents in my electorate of Northern Metro have approached me with various queries about the upcoming local council elections. The most common question is: is the government postponing council elections during the pandemic restrictions?
It’s a fair question. I mean, how can candidates campaign during a pandemic? How can they make a pitch for votes when they can’t knock on doors, meet with potential voters, attend local candidates’ policy events or even deliver information to mailboxes?
So, will the Andrews government postpone local council elections until a time when they can be done in a safe manner for voters and ensure a level playing field for all candidates?