Rural Ward Extraordinary Election Update

MEDIA RELEASE: 4 August 2026

The Shire of Manjimup advises that the extraordinary election scheduled for 24 September 2026 will not proceed, following updated direction from the Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety (the Department).

The vacancy will instead be filled through the statutory backfill process under the Local Government Act 1995.

When the vacancy first arose in June 2026, the Shire immediately sought the Department's guidance on the correct legislative process for filling it. Given the unusual circumstances surrounding the vacancy, the Department advised it was seeking further legal advice. However, the Local Government Act 1995 imposes strict statutory timeframes for filling Council vacancies, and the Shire was required to keep progressing the matter while that Department sought its advice.

Acting on the Department's advice at the time, Council resolved to proceed with an extraordinary election, and the WA Electoral Commission was engaged to conduct a postal election on 24 September 2026.

On 3 August 2026, the Shire received further advice from the Department directing the Shire to instead commence the statutory backfill process, by offering the vacancy to the next eligible unelected candidate from the 2025 Local Government Election. That advice arrived after Council had resolved to hold an extraordinary election and after the Electoral Commission had begun preparations for that election.

Shire President Donelle Buegge acknowledged that the change in process was unexpected for the Shire and for the community, saying “The Shire understands this change may cause confusion, particularly as preparations for an extraordinary election had already commenced. Throughout this process, the Shire has acted in accordance with the advice provided by the Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety and has worked closely with that Department and the WA Electoral Commission to meet the requirements of the Local Government Act. This has been an unprecedented situation requiring careful consideration of complex legislative provisions that have not been tested ‘in action’ in Western Australia before.”

Shire President Buegge further said “At every stage the Shire has acted on the advice of the Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety; as that Department's advice has evolved following further legal consideration, so has the process we are required to follow. The Shire has no discretion to set aside State Government advice on the administration of the Local Government Act."

The WA Electoral Commission has advised that the Shire will not be charged for costs incurred to date in the electoral process. The Shire anticipates the statutory backfill process will be completed in the coming days, and will advise the community once the Rural Ward position has been validly filled.

-ENDS-

Authorised by Donelle Buegge, Shire President
Contact: 0409 114 681

Benjamin (Ben) Rose, Chief Executive Officer
Mikayla Ginbey, Corporate Communications Officer