Australian local councils elect new mayors and deputy leaders

Several Australian local councils have undergone leadership changes. In Parramatta, 28-year-old Cameron MacLean has been elected Lord Mayor, becoming the youngest in the city’s history. His election, which shifted the mayoralty to the Labor Party, was secured by a single vote following the defection of Councillor Tanya Raffoul from the Liberal Party. Kellie Darley was elected Deputy Lord Mayor; she has also identified herself as a whistleblower regarding council staff.

In Albury, Kylie King has been elected Mayor and Phillip Bullivant as Deputy Mayor. King has pledged to prioritize fiscal responsibility and investigate new revenue streams to address a $10.7 million operating deficit recorded in the previous financial year.

Additionally, Lake Macquarie has appointed Kate Warner as the new Deputy Mayor for a 12-month term. The council is also formally opposing proposed changes to Financial Assistance Grants, which are estimated to potentially reduce their funding by $7.2 million in the first year and up to $85 million over a decade.