Hobsons Bay council election, 2024

The City of Hobsons Bay covers parts of the inner west of Melbourne along the shore of Port Phillip Bay, including Altona, Altona North, Altona Meadows, Williamstown, Newport, Seabrook and part of Laverton.

The council had a population of 91,322 as of the 2021 census.

• Wards
• Redistribution
• Incumbent councillors
• History
• Council control
• Candidate summary
• Assessment
• Voting trends by ward

Wards
The City of Hobsons Bay will be divided into seven single-member wards as of 2024:

• Altona – in the centre, covering Seaholme, most of Altona and parts of Altona North.
• Altona Meadows – in the south-west, covering Seabrook and parts of Altona Meadows.
• Altona North – in the centre, covering Brooklyn and most of Altona North.
• Laverton – in the west, covering parts of Laverton, Altona Meadows and Altona.
• Spotswood – in the north-east, covering Spotswood, South Kingsville and part of Newport.
• Williamstown – in the far east, covering parts of Williamstown and Newport.
• Williamstown North – in the east, covering Williamstown North, parts of Williamstown, Altona North and Newport.

Redistribution
The council previously consisted of three wards, electing seven councillors. The Strand ward elected three councillors, while the Cherry Lake and Wetlands wards elected two councillors each.

The Cherry Lake ward covered the entire new Altona and Altona North wards.

The Strand ward covered the entire Spotswood, Williamstown and Williamstown North wards.

The Wetlands ward covered the entirety of the new Altona Meadows and Laverton wards.

Incumbent councillors

History
The City of Hobsons Bay was created in 1994 as an amalgamation of the Altona and Williamstown council areas along with a small part of the City of Footscray.

The council switched from a structure of four two-member wards to seven single-member wards in 2004. The council then switched to a structure of one three-member ward and two two-member wards in 2012. This structure applied until this year.

Council control
In the current term, the mayoralty has been held by Jonathan Marsden (2020-21), Peter Hemphill (2021-22), Tony Briffa (2022-23) and Matt Tyler (2023-24). Every member of the council has held a leadership role in the current term.

Candidate summary
Only two councillors are running for re-election – Daria Kellander and Diana Grima.

The Greens are running in two wards, while the Animal Justice Party, Libertarian Party and Victorian Socialists are each running in one ward. All other candidates are unendorsed by any party.

Assessment
There doesn’t seem to be a deep factional divide in Hobsons Bay.

Voting trends by ward
In order to understand the relative political position of each ward, I have estimated the results of the 2022 federal election in each ward.

Labor won a majority of the two-party-preferred vote in every ward, ranging from 62% in Altona and Altona Meadows wards, to 65% in Spotswood. Labor generally polled better at the eastern end.

Labor’s primary vote was much more even, as their two-party-preferred vote included a lot of Greens primary votes. The Greens polled best in the east.

The Liberal primary vote was highest in the south, along the waterfront.

Candidates – Altona Meadows Ward

• Liam Roche (Libertarian)
• Cr Diana Grima
• Matthew Phelan
• Ranbir Lambra

Candidates – Altona North Ward

• Alexandra Damasoliotis
• Ryan Thistlethwaite
• Rowena Joske (Greens)
• Rayane Hawli

Candidates – Altona Ward

• Irene Brown (Animal Justice)
• Cr Daria Kellander
• Susan Miller (Victorian Socialists)
• Phillip Paull
• Tim R. Rippon

Candidates – Laverton Ward

• Paddy Keys-Macpherson
• Tori Mikula

Candidates – Spotswood Ward

• Kristin Bishop
• Hayley Royal
• Daniel Kade
• Rosa McKenna
• Omar Baarini

Candidates – Williamstown North Ward

• Alexander Ansalone
• Nicholas Norton
• Wajde Ghazi Assaf
• Michael Disbury

Candidates – Williamstown Ward

• Ingrid Magtengaard (Greens)
• Lisa Bentley

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