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Local Council elections
Health Department estimates suggest there are over 4000 residents in the City of Busselton who are part of the LGBTQIA+ community, as well as more than 1 in every 10 tourists. In WA, local governments play an important enabling role in community health and wellbeing. Their responsibilities include:
Public Health Planning: under the Public Health Act 2016 (WA), councils must develop local public health plans that align with state priorities.
Safe & Inclusive Spaces: they manage parks, libraries, sporting facilities, and community centres, which can be designed to be welcoming and inclusive.
Community Development & Events: councils fund, support, or partner on programs that build social connection and reduce isolation.
Advocacy & Leadership : councils can show leadership in inclusion, set policies against discrimination, and advocate to state and federal government.
Why it Matters to the LGBTQIA+ Community
Safe Spaces Reduce Isolation: in regional areas especially, LGBTQIA+ people often experience social isolation. Local government support for inclusive events and spaces can make a huge difference.
Visibility & Belonging: when councils openly support Pride initiatives, it signals acceptance and improves mental health outcomes.
Access to Information & Services: councils are often a first point of contact for residents and can connect LGBTQIA+ people with inclusive services.
Addressing Discrimination: local governments can model inclusive practices in employment, service delivery, and community engagement.
For LGBTQIA+ people, having a local government which actively plans for inclusion means safer, more connected, and healthier lives.
2025 Local Council election
The local government election took place on Saturday 18 October 2025.
We contacted all of the nineteen candidates (except neo-nazi Stephen Wells) and asked them to respond to a written survey about LGBTQIA+ issues (survey questions are available here). We also held a Let's Talk Local Government Forum on Monday 15 September, which 18 candidates were invited to, and seven candidates attended.
A summary of responses we received to our survey are published here and the full responses we received (including emails and additional statements) are published here.
Note - The candidates who have not responded to us at all are Anne Ryan, Michelle Shackleton, Nicholas Vines, Stephen Spelman and Nicole Davies.
2023 Local Council election
2023 Local Council election
The 2023 election occurred on 21 October. In July 2023, a neo-nazi addressed a community consultation event at Council Chambers. He expressed strong opposition to LGBTIQA+ books being available in the local library and called for their removal and a ban of such books.
We sent a survey to all candidates to gather their views on this issue and several LGBTQIA+ topics.
Summary of Responses
We received responses from four of the six Mayoral Candidates - Cr. Phill Cronin, Cr. Jodie Richards, Cr. Sue Riccelli, and Kate Cox. All four have responded positively.
We received responses from all of the Council Candidates except one.
Candidates Cr. Ross Paine and Val Kaigg have responded positively. Candidates Richard Beecroft and Jarrod Kennedy responded declining to answer the questions.
Candidate Andrew Macnish has responded with a lengthy yet ambiguous response.
Those who did not respond were Mayoral Candidate Anne Ryan, and Council Candidate Cherise Woodhams.
Full Responses - Mayoral Candidates
Note - Candidates who are both a Mayoral Candidate and a Council candidate are recorded in the Mayoral list only.
Responses - Council Candidates
Note - Stephen Wells was not sent the survey due to his extremist views already extensively published online. Candidate Andrew MacNish's response is attached here separately due to it's length.
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