GO TO
The graphic above is here to serve as references for the propositions I am about to present relative to placemaking and urban development in a 'place' like the City of Launceston. The class of decision making on display is very concerning given the circumstances of the times. The hubris and arrogance on display would be an issue at any time but right now with the evidence of Climate Change becoming more and more concerning and the COVID-19 Crisis increasingly looking like it will linger for a very long time one has to wonder what is informing decision making in Launceston.
ELECTED REPRESENTATION
The Winston S. Churchill quote “Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others” that gets an airing anytime that the quality of democratic decision making is challenged. Well it turns out that Launceston is a great place to begin to debunk democracy in a local governance context.
It turns out that in Launceston at least what passes for democratic representation is anything but 'elected representation' when push comes to shove looks a lot more like a 'two up game' or a 'chook raffle' at the bottom pub.
Just look at the graphic above.
In looking at take the following into account:
• Less than 50% of the eligible electorate vote; and
• In order to win a quota of votes to get on Council you only need to win something less than 16% of that 50%; and
• It turns out that the Mayor with 3 Quotas only needed to garner something less than 10% of the eligible voters' first preference votes; and
• It turns out that Deputy Mayor won his place with just over 1ooo first prefenence votes and well short of va Quota; and
• It turns out that two other Councillors won just over 1000 first preference votes and less than a Quota; and
• All other Councillors won onn significantly less than a 1000 first preference votes; and
• One Councillor has as few as 36i first preference votes; and
the silliness of 'elected representation' goes on from there.
Interesting, in a jurisdiction near Launceston there is a Councillor who kind of asserts the Churchill position' and who will tell you over and over that's the way it is – and by implication 'get over it'. Maybe I'm verballing the good Councillor but I do not think so and one might turn over any number of rocks in local politics to find a 'Conga Line of Soulmates'. All arguably clinging to their encumbancy for any number of reasons.
So, let's just put the veracity of elected representation in local governance aside. In fact you could get an equally credible outcome in a two up ring or by any other version of a 'game of chance'. The trouble is that in the ring somewhere there are players with double headed pennies.
And the graphic below is more to do with 'marketing' than the real life on the ground experiences of ratepayers and residents when the chips are down.
