2016 New South Wales local elections

← 2012 10 September 2016[a] 2017 → 2021 →
79 of the 128local government areas inNew South Wales
First party Second party Third party   IND Leader N/A N/A N/A Party Independents Labor Liberal Last election [b] [b] [b] Seats won 545 81 48 Popular vote 678,591 429,605 286,013 Percentage 39.59% 24.60% 16.40% Swing 1.45 5.43 5.45   Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party   Leader No leader Fred Nile Jim Saleam Party Greens Christian Democrats Australia First Last election [b] 0 1 Seats before 1 0 Seats won 24[1] 0 0 Seat change 1 Popular vote 110,491 15,326 4,424 Percentage 6.35% 0.90% 0.27% Swing 0.33 0.49 0.08   Seventh party Eighth party   AJP Leader John Humphreys No leader Party Liberal Democrats Animal Justice Last election 1[b] Did not contest Seats before 1 0 Seats won 0 0 Seat change 1 Popular vote 4,356 193 Percentage 0.27% 0.02% Swing 0.04 0.02

The2016 New South Wales local elections were held on 10 September 2016 to elect the councils of 79 of the 128local government areas (LGAs) ofNew South Wales. Several councils also held mayoral elections and/or referendums.^[2]

The elections were conducted by theNew South Wales Electoral Commission, with the exception ofFairfield,Gunnedah,Kempsey,Lake Macquarie andPenrith, who chose to conduct their own elections.^[2]

Theelection in Tweed was deferred until29 October 2016 due to the death of a candidate.^[3]

Following the2012 elections, major changes occurred as a result of the enactment of theLocal Government (Areas) Act 1948 and as a result of a review by theNSW Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) that commenced in 2013. On 12 May 2016, following a further review by theMinister for Local Government and the independent Local Government Boundaries Commission,PremierMike Baird announced Stage 1 starting with 19 new councils, through amalgamations and mergers, with immediate effect. The Minister indicated in principle support to create a further nine new councils, subject to the decision of the courts.^[4][5] On the same day, theGovernor of New South Wales acted on the advice of the Minister, and proclaimed the 19 new local government areas. Another proclamation occurred a few months later with the amalgamation ofCity of Botany Bay andCity of Rockdale.^[6]

This resulted in 46 councils not being contested until2017, before the vast majority contested together again in2021.

The following registered parties contested this election. This does not include groups of independents:

• Animal Justice Party
• Christian Democrats
• Greens
• Labor Party
• Liberal Democrats
• Liberal Party

In addition, a number oflocal government-registered parties also contested the elections.^[7]

A number of councillors joined or left parties before the 2016 elections.

InFairfield, Labor councillor George Barcha was handed a 6-month suspension for branch stacking and ran fourth on the party's Cabravale Ward ticket at the election.^[8]

Party			Votes	%	Swing	Seats[b][c]	Change
	Independents		678,591	39.59	+1.45	545
	Labor		429,605	24.60	+5.43	81
	Liberal		286,013	16.40	−5.45	48
	Greens		110,491	6.35	−0.33	23
	Clover Moore Independent Team		45,224	2.60	+1.71	5	1
	Independent National		40,896	2.35	+1.36	15
	Shoalhaven Independents		21,510	1.31	+0.98	5	2
	Independent Liberal		21,364	1.30	−2.57	5
	Independent Lake Alliance		20,978	1.21	+0.44	1	3
	Lake Mac Independents		19,036	1.10	+1.10	3	3
	Christian Democrats		15,326	0.90	+0.49	0
	Liverpool Community Independents Team		13,207	0.75	+0.54	2	1
	Totally Locally Committed		7,865	0.45	+0.24	2
	Community First		7,049	0.41	+0.25	1
	Sydney Matters		6,051	0.35	+0.35	1	1
	Australia First		4,424	0.27	+0.08	0	1
	Liberal Democrats		4,356	0.27	−0.04	0	1
	Our Sustainable Future		4,295	0.26	+0.18	2
	Bob Thompson		3,891	0.25	+0.13	1
	Independent Labor		3,700	0.23	−0.24	4
	Community Service Environment		2,152	0.14	+0.02	0	1
	For A Better Shoalhaven		1,394	0.10	+0.10	0
	Albury Citizens and Ratepayers		301	0.03	−0.05	0	1
	Animal Justice		193	0.02	+0.02	0
Total			1,747,912	100.00	–	–	–

In addition to the local elections, six LGAs heldreferendums.

TheNew South Wales Electoral Commission held a number ofby-elections to fill vacancies on councils after the 2016 elections up until2021.^[10]

• 2016 Sydney City Council election
• 2016 Tweed Shire Council election

• 2016 elections in Australia
• 2016 in New South Wales
• 2016 New South Wales local elections
• Local elections in New South Wales

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