Naracoorte Lucindale mayor Patrick Ross has blasted a push to delay South Australia’s local government elections, warning councils, candidates, and communities should not be left in limbo after years of preparation, months of planning, and public resources already committed to delivering a November vote.

As the South Australian acting Election Commissioner Leah McLay seeks ministerial approval to postpone the election amid concerns over the Electoral Commission’s readiness, Mr Ross said the focus must remain on delivering certainty and the best outcome for residents and ratepayers-not shifting the goalposts months out from voting.

“This is not what local government in SA wanted to hear as here at the Naracoorte Lucindale Council, we have erected signage and some prospective candidates have put forward their names,” Mr Ross told The [Naracoorte] News.

“Since the last local government election and the issues which arose from that there have been calls for reform and an inquiry of by the Electoral Commission in SA, with the thought that there may need to be a period of separation between the state election and local government elections.

“Here we are four years later, and we find ourselves in this predicament.”

Mr Ross said the state government needed to move quickly to provide certainty.

“The government really needs to decide very soon how this will progress.

“In my opinion, there are two choices. The first is business as usual. Surely, we can run the local government election in November, or secondly, it is delayed a full year. Given the time and expense that has been invested to date on the election being held this November, it should follow through.”

He said any change would affect both outgoing elected members and prospective candidates.

“There needs to be consideration for those members who have planned to step down from local government to do so, and for those who are making a decision to stand so they can get on with that phase of their campaign.

“Any proposed change to the timing of the local government election has serious implications.”

Mr Ross also warned against moving the election into the first half of the year, arguing it would clash with councils’ budgeting responsibilities.

“(For) the elected members from July through to December, is business as usual issues and recommendation come before the council which are dealt with in due course.

“From January all the way to the June (council) meeting, council is preparing the budget for the next financial year, and decisions need to be made to ensure we carry out our responsibility to our community, just as you have seen over the last few weeks and months.

“To hold an election in the first half of the calendar year would be seriously problematic.

“During this caretaker period, decision-making is constrained, firstly around the inability to make policy change(s) and setting budgets, and secondly, new members to the council would need to be trying to find their feet and deliver a budget for which they have very little preparation.”

Mr Ross said the focus should remain on delivering certainty and outcomes for communities.

“In this great democracy of ours, surely given the issues which we all recognise, we can run the local government elections here in South Australia.

“This has always been a collaboration between the Electoral Commission and local government and I’m certain we can all deliver the best outcome for the residents and ratepayers of South Australia.”

Ms McLay said she had not taken the request lightly and apologised for the impact any delay would have.

“From the outset, I would like to emphasise that I have not taken this decision lightly and I apologise for the impact a delay would have on councils and ratepayers,” she said in a statement.

Ms McLay said her observation of the March 2026 state election was that due to inadequate frameworks and processes, planning and delivery were occurring simultaneously.

“I am very concerned that the upcoming local election will experience similar impacts.”

She said staff recruitment challenges, fatigue following recent elections, and the timing of the independent review contributed to concerns.

“In light of all these concerns, it is my strong view that delaying the periodic local government election would be desirable and I have asked the attorney (general) to give this matter urgent consideration.

“I reiterate that I have not taken this action lightly and I recognise that it will have an impact on councils, however in the circumstances the commission finds itself, I am not comfortable with proceeding with the elections in November.”

Ms McLay said the community would be updated once the minister had considered the request.

Ministerial feedback or approval to Ms McLay’s request to postpone the election was not received at the time of press.

This article appeared in The Naracoorte News, 17 June 2026.