Shire Watch Independents
Shire Watch Independents | |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation |
|
| Founders | John Levett and 5 others |
| Founded | 1999 |
| Dissolved | 10 August 2016 |
| Ideology | Anti-overdevelopment[1][2] |
| Political position | Centre-left[3] |
| Sutherland Shire Council | 5 / 15 (2008−2011) |
Shire Watch Independents (SWI), also known simply as Shire Watch, was an Australian political party that contested local government elections for Sutherland Shire in New South Wales.[4]
The party was in an alliance with the Labor Party from 1999 until 2004, and again from 2008 until 2011.[5]
History
[edit]Shire Watch was founded by a group of six residents ahead of the 1999 local government elections.[6] At the election on 11 September, the party won four seats, which was enough to defeat the incumbent Liberal Party majority and form an alliance with Labor.[7] Shire Watch councillor Tracie Sonda served as mayor from 2000 until 2002.[8]
In 2004, the Liberal Party won seven seats while Shire Watch won four.[3]
At the 2008 election, the Liberal Party did not formally endorse candidates. Four Independent Liberals were elected, however the Shire Watch−Labor alliance won a majority, with five candidates from Shire Watch and three from Labor elected.[3] Shire Watch councillor Lorraine Kelly was elected by councillors as mayor following the elections, and remained in the role until 2010.[8]
In 2011, the Shire Watch−Labor alliance broke down after Shire Watch councillor Carol Provan left the party and allied with the Independent Liberals, who assisted in electing her mayor.[3]
At the 2012 election, Shire Watch lost four of its seats, and Peter Towell was the only member of the party re-elected.[3][9]
On 10 August 2016, Towell announced he would contest the 2016 election as an independent candidate, thus dissolving Shire Watch.[10]
References
[edit]- ^ "Struggle for Power in Sutherland Shire Conflict between and within the Shire's political parties". Sutherland Shire Environment Centre. Archived from the original on 14 May 2024. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
- ^ "High-rise in Shire Watch sights". St George & Sutherland Shire Leader. 16 July 2012.
- ^ a b c d e Raue, Ben (23 August 2016). "Sutherland Shire election, 2016". The Tally Room. Archived from the original on 14 May 2024. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
- ^ "Progressives supported in NSW council elections". Green Left. 20 September 2008.
- ^ Raue, Ben (5 May 2021). "Sutherland Shire election, 2021". The Tally Room.
- ^ "John Levett – Ward 2". Greens on Council. Archived from the original on 14 May 2024. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
John was one of six founding members of Shire Watch Independents
- ^ "OVERDEVELOPMENT Is it being checked?". Sutherland Shire Environment Centre. Archived from the original on 14 May 2024. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
- ^ a b "Historical list of mayors and councillors" (PDF). SSC. Sutherland Shire Council. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
- ^ "PROVAN IN TIGHT ELECTION CONTEST IN SHIRE". 2SSR 99.7FM. 2012.
- ^ "Peter Towell won't be standing under the Shire Watch banner in the 2016 Sutherland Shire Council election". St George & Sutherland Shire Leader. 10 August 2016. Retrieved 14 May 2024.