THE Greens will not contest the Lake Macquarie local government election next month after the party’s intended mayoral candidate was five minutes late submitting their nomination.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Jane Oakley told the Newcastle Herald she was “gutted” her party had missed Wednesday’s 12pm nomination deadline, and took responsibility for an oversight in paying the required candidates’ deposits.
Submitting her party’s nomination paperwork, Ms Oakley hadn’t realised candidates needed to pay by cash or cheque.
Paying by card was not an option.
“I did a dash to the bank and by the time I got back it was too late,” Ms Oakley said.
“There was about five minutes in it.”
The Greens’ ticket in Lake Macquarie would have featured Ms Oakley as a mayoral candidate for the North Ward, and leading candidates Wylie Campbell and Fiona Moore in the East and West wards respectively.
Ms Oakley said she had been looking forward to presenting a progressive policy platform to Lake Macquarie voters, and was “as disappointed as a person can be” about the registration blunder.
The Green won’t seek to appeal the ruling, which was made by the Australian Election Company in its Lake Macquarie City Council-appointed role as poll overseer.
“The provisions do not allow the Returning Officer, or the Election Manager, any discretion or flexibility to accept deposit payments or nominations, after the close of nominations,” a council spokeswoman said.
The Greens will now assess the candidates running for election in Lake Macquarie and consider which of them to back.
Lake Macquarie has outsourced the running of council elections since the 2012 poll.
At the 2016 local government elections, to be held on September 10, the Australian Election Company will also oversee the polls in Fairfield, Kempsey and Penrith.
The council election will now be contested primarily among the Liberal and Labor parties and two main clusters of “independents” including a newcomer, Lake Mac Independents.
