The Hunter River Times

BY DI SNEDDON

Singleton Council has until midday Tuesday, February 15, to lodge cross summons and evidence in a bid to receive a Supreme Court direction for the December local government election results.

A total of 55 people were unable to access the iVote system in the Singleton election and the NSW Electoral Commission considered this may have impacted the election result.

The NSW Electoral Commission is seeking a declaration about the validity of the results by the NSW Supreme Court.  Singleton is one of three local government areas involved in the court case.  Kempsey and Shellharbour (which is only impacted in one ward) are also under the question of validity.

Chief Judge at Common Law, Justice R Beech-Jones, will hear the notice of motion in the Supreme Court at 2pm on February 18.

The matter has then been listed for hearing in the Supreme Court on February 22 and 23.

Given the status of the case, Singleton Council is making no further comment on the situation pending the court hearing.

It cost Singleton Council $200,000 to conduct the December 4 local government election and it is not a cost they wish to pay again should the Supreme Court declare another election.

In a previous statement to The Hunter River Times (January 28 edition), Singleton Council general manager Jason Linnane said it was very clear that there had been no act or omission on the behalf of council or any of the candidates in the election which contributed to the circumstances we find ourselves in.

Speaking with many members of the community and two issues were unanimous.  A decision needs to be made as quickly as possible and Singleton ratepayers should not have to pay any costs associated with situation.