My Vote Counts objects to elements of the Coalition Bill that undermines democracy

5 August 2024

Last week we made a submission on the ‘Coalitions Bill’. The Bill was introduced to deal with the instability and dysfunction that has, to some degree unfairly, been associated with local coalitions, and specifically several metros.  

We agree that there is a need for some legislation to provide a structure in which coalition governments can operate more effectively. However, this process cannot be used as an opportunity by dominant political parties to cement their power at the expense of voters. While there are several elements of the Bill that MVC supports, we strongly reject amendments that will diminish our political rights and mechanisms that provide accountability and undermine democracy. 

The Coalitions Bill

The Bill introduces several proposals aimed at strengthening coalition politics at the municipal level. These are:

1. Insert the definition of a coalition agreement

2. Change municipalities with a mayoral executive system, in which no party obtained a majority of seats, to a collective executive system within a prescribed period

3. Provide for the election or removal from office of municipal office-bearers to be by a show of hands

4. Provide for the grounds for removal of municipal office-bearers from office

5. To provide for binding coalition agreements

6. Provide a minimum threshold of one percent of the valid votes cast during an election for a party to qualify for a seat on the council

While some legislation is required to create a legal framework more conducive to our current political situation, we must not over-regulate our politics. Alongside some legislative changes, what is required is a more mature approach to our politics. Political parties need to operate with the best interests of the public and not engage in transactional compromises.

What MVC supports in the Bill 

 - The requirement for coalition governments to develop and make public coalition agreements – these agreements will help the public to understand how parties intend to co-govern and what compromises they have made on policy and will serve as a tool for the public to hold the government to account.

 - Changing the legal status of municipalities that need to form a coalition from the mayoral executive system to the collective executive system – the collective system can provide greater transparency and accountability and greater stability in a coalition.  

 - Voting by show of hands – this will deepen transparency and accountability and limit corruption and the potential for votes to be bought.  

What MVC rejects in the Bill

 - The limiting of motions of no confidence and processes to remove key positions in a council, namely the speaker, whip, members of the executive, mayor and deputy mayor – limiting bringing such motions to once every 2 years, despite a mechanism to allow for such motions under certain circumstances will remove a key check and balance of accountability.

 - Coalition agreements that are binding – while the desire for these agreements to be binding is recognised, they are not legally enforceable contracts.

 - The introduction of a 1% electoral threshold – this will exclude smaller parties from representation in local councils, limit political choice, produce more wasted votes, and diminish the rights of voters.  

The development of legislation to assist coalitions should not be an opportunity for those in power to consolidate and shrink political competition, under the guise of wanting stability. We must ensure that whatever changes are made are in the best interests of democracy, service delivery, and our political rights.  

Read our full submission here.

Issued by Joel Bregman, My Vote Counts’  Senior Researcher, 5 August 2024