Posted 19/06/2024 by Nathan Church
The sixth Australian Council of Local Government (ACLG) will meet in Canberra on 5 July 2024, as the leading policy forum between the Australian Government and senior local government representatives. In recognising the broader relationship between these 2 levels of government, this Flagpost reflects on some notable federal parliamentarians who have experience in local government.
As this article’s title foreshadows, 3 current ministers initially served as a local government mayor: Chris Bowen, Kristy McBain and Clare O’Neil. Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen was elected to Fairfield Council (NSW, 1995–2004) serving as mayor (1998–1999) and President of the Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (1999–2001). In his first speech in the Federal Parliament, Bowen highlighted the role local government played in supporting community urban environments, through both financial support and policy focus. Also from NSW, Minister for Regional Development, Territories and Local Government Kristy McBain served on the Bega Valley Shire Council (2012–2020). The last 4 years of this term was as mayor, when she was only the second woman in the council’s history elected to the position. Clare O’Neil, Minister for Home Affairs and Cyber Security, served on Victoria’s Greater Dandenong Council (2003–2005) and until 2019 held the national record as youngest woman to be a mayor (in 2004). Notably, all 3 were in their 20s when first elected to council (Bowen and O’Neil were 22, and McBain was 29).
Mark Coulton is another current MP with both ministerial and mayoral experience, having previously served in the ministry (2018–2021) and as the inaugural mayor of Gwydir Shire Council (2004–2007). Coulton described his journey during his first speech:
The second defining moment that changed the course of my life was when the New South Wales government decided to structurally reform local government in 2003. The reform process led to the creation of the Gwydir Shire Council. Despite having no former experience in local government, I found myself the inaugural Mayor of Gwydir Shire in September 2004. Up until this point in my life, I had believed my future lay in agriculture. My involvement with the Gwydir Shire Council took me in a new direction.
Outside of the ministry, 6 current parliamentarians have also served as mayors within local government: Bridget Archer (George Town Council [Tas], 2017–2019), Libby Coker (Surf Coast Shire, [Vic], 2009–2010 and 2012–2013), Julian Hill (City of Port Phillip [Vic], 2002–2004), Jerome Laxale (City of Ryde [NSW], 2015–2016 and 2017–2022), Andrew Willcox (Whitsunday Regional Council [Qld], 2016–2022) and Tony Zappia (City of Salisbury [SA], 1997–2007). Approximately 20 other current parliamentarians have also served in other local government roles, including the House of Representatives Speaker Milton Dick (Brisbane City Council [Qld], 2008–2016).
Parliamentary Handbook data indicates that 340 of the 1838 total federal parliamentarians (18.5%) had also been elected to local government. A particularly notable example of these was the ‘Father of Independents’ Ted Mack, whose more than 25 years of public service spanned local, state and federal government. One of his first reported acts upon being elected North Sydney’s mayor was to sell the council Mercedes and use the proceeds for community buses. This sentiment remained right up to the end of his federal career, when he retired after two terms to avoid receiving a parliamentary pension.
Only 2 Prime Ministers have ever led a local government: Earle Page and John Gorton. Page served as South Grafton’s mayor from early 1918 until being sworn in to federal parliament in 1920. In this, he followed in the footsteps of his father Charles and uncle Tom (former mayors of Grafton) and uncle Robert (former mayor of Casino). Gorton was elected President of northern Victoria’s Kerang Shire Council in September 1949. However, less than 3 months later he was elected to the Senate, with his term commencing on 1 July 1950. Former Prime Ministers Ben Chifley and Arthur Fadden also served on local government, as a councillor and alderman respectively.
There have also been cases of federal parliamentarians moving the other way and transitioning to local government when their service in Canberra has ended. Arguably the most prominent example of this is Philip Ruddock, whose more than 42 years of federal parliamentary service (including almost 12 years as a minister) is second only to Billy Hughes. Having retired as the Member for Berowra in 2016, Ruddock was elected as mayor of Hornsby Shire Council the following year and continues in that role. From 1960–1961 his father Maxwell Ruddock had also served as Shire Council President, in addition to his broader local and state government service.
The Australian Local Government Association identifies 537 councils across Australia, containing approximately 5,670 elected representatives. Given this large cohort encompasses tangible political, electoral and representational experience, it remains likely that the trajectory from local to federal government will long continue.