In an LGA that Labor members usually avoid, what will we see from Liberals, Greens and independents?
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Boroondara is not an LGA that Labor members usually contest. As of 2024, just three Labor-aligned councillirs (Mary Halikias-Byrnes, Kevin Chow and Steve Hurd) have been elected since 1996, and no Labor members are currently on council.
The Liberal Party has enjoyed steady support here, while the Greens have also attempted to further establish themselves in the area following their 2019 federal election campaign in Kooyong.
2020 election
At the 2020 election, the Greens had their first-ever Boroondara victory with Wes Gault elected in Glenferrie Ward, defeating incumbent Independent Labor councillor Steve Hurd. All elected Liberal members were endorsed by Burwood Liberals.
Elected councillors
Ward | Councillor |
Bellevue | Jim Parke (IND) |
Cotham | Felicity Sinfield (LIB) |
Gardiner | Victor Franco (IND) |
Glenferrie | Wes Gault (GRN) |
Junction | Di Gillies (IND) |
Lynden | Lisa Hollingsworth (LIB) |
Maling | Jane Addis (IND) |
Maranoa | Cynthia Watson (LIB) |
Riversdale | Susan Biggar (IND) |
Solway | Garry Thompson (LIB) |
Studley | Nick Stavrou (LIB) |
Defections
No by-elections have been required this council term, while two councillors have quit the Liberal Party.
In mid-2021, Solway Ward councillor Garry Thompson left the Liberals to sit as an independent.
This was confirmed to 6 News in February 2020: "[I] resigned from the Liberal Party midway through my Mayoral year in 2021".
6 News understands Lynden Ward councillor Lisa Hollingsworth also left the Liberals at around the same time as Thompson in 2021.
Although endorsed by Burwood Liberals in 2020, Cotham Ward councillor Felicity Sinfield has told 6 News she identifies as an Independent Liberal.
Wards
Unlike many other metropolitan Melbourne councils, Boroondara has never had multi-member wards, and as such the Local Government Act 2020 has little impact.
Riversdale Ward was created for the 2020 election, while all others were established at the inaugural election in 1996.
Retiring councillors
Candidates
Asterisks (*) indicate an incumbent councillor, even if they are not contesting their current ward.
Bellevue Ward
TBA (Liberal)
TBA (Greens)
Cotham Ward
Felicity Sinfield (Independent Liberal)*
TBA (Greens)
Gardiner Ward
TBA (Liberal)
TBA (Greens)
Glenferrie Ward
TBA (Liberal)
Wes Gault (Greens)*
Junction Ward
TBA (Liberal)
TBA (Greens)
Lynden Ward
TBA (Liberal)
TBA (Greens)
Maling Ward
TBA (Liberal)
TBA (Greens)
Maranoa Ward
TBA (Liberal)
Jackie Carter (Greens)
Solway Ward
Zachary Townend (Independent Liberal)
John Friend-Pereira (Greens)
Studley Ward
TBA (Liberal)
TBA (Greens)
Analysis
Kew Independents and Hawthorn Independents, two "teal" groups involved in the 2022 Victorian state election, have offered to mentor Boroondara candidates. Whether this translates into formal endorsements (and subsequently how we at 6 News would categorise these candidates) remains to be seen as of April 2024.
For more coverage of the 2024 Victorian local elections, click here
Links:
Felicity Sinfield: "I'm also a totally self funded independent Liberal" (19 July 2024)
Zachary Townend: "I am an Independent Candidate who is a member of the Liberal Party." (16 July 2024)