Our Local Community
{{Infobox political party
| name = Our Local Community
| logo = OLClogo.png
| logo_size = 200px
| colorcode = #118080
| leader = Paul Garrard
| slogan = Caring. Consulting. Understanding.
| foundation = {{Start date and age|November 2013}}
| headquarters = 42 O'Neill Street
Granville, New South Wales
| registered = c. {{Start date and age|2017}}
| abbreviation = OLC
| membership_year = 2024
| founder = Paul Garrard
| predecessor = Woodville Independents
| dissolved =
| ideology = Conservatism
Localism
| position = {{nowrap|Centre-right to right-wing}}
| colours = {{Colour box|#118080}} {{Colour box|#f77a02}} Teal and orange
| seats1_title = Parramatta City Council
| seats1 = {{Composition bar|4|15|hex=#118080}}
| seats2_title = Cumberland City Council
| seats2 = {{Composition bar|3|15|hex=#118080}}
| seats3_title = Canada Bay City Council
| seats3 = {{Composition bar|2|9|hex=#118080}}
| country = New South Wales
}}
Our Local Community (OLC) is an Australian political party that competes in local elections in New South Wales. The party was formed in 2013 by former Parramatta mayor Paul Garrard, and is currently registered with the New South Wales Electoral Commission (NSWEC).{{cite web |title=Cr Paul Garrard forms new community party to contest Parramatta Council election |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240518041543/https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/parramatta/cr-paul-garrard-forms-new-community-party-to-contest-parramatta-council-election/news-story/7b940b29789c8d651c9242c11719c3eb?nk=84f253d28ec7003587e47252ab29b0ff-1716005742 |archive-date=18 May 2024 |url-status=live |url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/parramatta/cr-paul-garrard-forms-new-community-party-to-contest-parramatta-council-election/news-story/7b940b29789c8d651c9242c11719c3eb |publisher=The Daily Telegraph}}{{cite web |title=Local government register of political parties |url=https://elections.nsw.gov.au/funding-and-disclosure/public-register-and-lists/register-of-parties/local-government-register-of-parties |publisher=New South Wales Electoral Commission |access-date=9 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240709052601/https://elections.nsw.gov.au/funding-and-disclosure/public-register-and-lists/register-of-parties/local-government-register-of-parties |archive-date=9 July 2024}}
Unlike many other local government political parties in Australia, OLC competes in and has members on several different councils.
As of July 2024, there are four OLC councillors on Parramatta City Council, three on Cumberland City Council and two on Canada Bay City Council.
History
OLC founder and then-Parramatta councillor Paul Garrad was a member of the Labor Party until 2004 when he was not preselected to run for the state electorate of Granville. He was re-elected to council at the 2012 local elections after forming Woodville Independents.{{cite web |title=Parramatta City Council |url=http://www.abc.net.au/elections/nsw/2012/council/?page=Parramatta |publisher=ABC News| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121114144649/http://www.abc.net.au/elections/nsw/2012/council/?page=Parramatta | archive-date=2012-11-14 }}
In 2013, Garrard founded OLC, which had around 300 members in its first year.
=2017 elections=
In 2017, OLC won two seats in Cumberland and two seats in Parramatta.{{cite web |title=Cumberland |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/elections/nswlg/2017/cumberland |publisher=ABC News}}{{cite web |title=City of Parramatta |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/elections/nswlg/2017/parramatta |publisher=ABC News}} The party also contested Canterbury-Bankstown.{{cite web |title=Canterbury-Bankstown |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/elections/nswlg/2017/canterbury-bankstown |publisher=ABC News}}
Cumberland Labor councillor Steve Christou defected to OLC in 2019, as did directly-elected Labor mayor of Canada Bay Angelo Tsirekas in October 2021.{{cite web |title=Cumberland Council new mayor Steve Christou quits Labor Party |url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/parramatta/cumberland-council-new-mayor-steve-cristou-quits-labor-party/news-story/14064a2820cf1737a67d36127fd9e5e7 |publisher=The Daily Telegraph}}{{cite web |title=Canada Bay |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/elections/nswlg/2021/canada-bay |publisher=ABC News}}
OLC councillor Andrew Wilson joined The Small Business Party in 2021.{{cite web |title=NSW council elections – who is running, and how many? |date=8 November 2021 |url=https://www.tallyroom.com.au/44234 |publisher=The Tally Room}}
=2021 elections=
At the 2021 local elections, the party won an additional 3 seats in Canada Bay, and contested Fairfield and Randwick for the first time. An additional two seats (including Steve Christou) in both Cumberland and Parramatta were also gained.{{cite web |title=Results by Local Government Area |url=https://pastvtr.elections.nsw.gov.au/LG2101/index?_ga=2.32960702.1816062071.1685696419-760946834.1669626829 |publisher=New South Wales Electoral Commission}}
On 13 December 2023, Tsirekas was dismissed mayor of Canada Bay by Minister for Local Government Ron Hoenig after an investigation from the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) over allegations he accepted benefits from a developer group in return for "favourable planning decisions".{{cite web |title=Canada Bay mayor Angelo Tsirekas being investigated by ICAC |date=6 April 2022 |url=https://www.harveyreporter.com.au/news/canada-bay-mayor-angelo-tsirekas-being-investigated-by-icac-c-6357942 |publisher=NCA NewsWire}}{{cite news |title=Sydney council mayor sacked and banned from civil office for five years over corruption findings |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/dec/13/sydney-council-mayor-sacked-and-banned-from-civil-office-for-five-years-over-corruption-findings |work=The Guardian|date=13 December 2023 }}
Cumberland councillor Eddy Sarkis left OLC after losing party preselection in February 2024.{{cite news |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |last1=Segaert |first1=Anthony |title=We asked every Cumberland councillor about the same-sex book ban. Here's what they said |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/we-asked-every-cumberland-councillor-about-the-same-sex-book-ban-here-s-what-they-said-20240514-p5jdh4.html |publisher=Sydney Morning Herald |access-date=15 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240515013329/https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/we-asked-every-cumberland-councillor-about-the-same-sex-book-ban-here-s-what-they-said-20240514-p5jdh4.html |archive-date=15 May 2024 |date=15 May 2024}}
=Cumberland book ban=
{{main|2024 Cumberland book ban}}
In May 2024, OLC's councillors in Cumberland were involved in a controversial ban of same-sex parenting books from the eight libraries in the Cumberland public library system.
During a council meeting on 1 May, Christou requested that the motion "That Council adopt the 'Library Strategy 2024 - 2027' as outlined in Attachment 1 of this report" be amended with "subject to the following being undertaken: That Council take immediate action to rid same-sex parents books/materials in Council's library service".{{Cite news |last=Mokrzycki |first=Sarah |date=2024-05-08 |title=A Sydney council has banned books with same-sex parents from its libraries. But since when did councils ban books? |url=http://theconversation.com/a-sydney-council-has-banned-books-with-same-sex-parents-from-its-libraries-but-since-when-did-councils-ban-books-229610 |archive-date=26 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240526111644/http://theconversation.com/a-sydney-council-has-banned-books-with-same-sex-parents-from-its-libraries-but-since-when-did-councils-ban-books-229610 |url-status=live |access-date=2024-05-15 |website=The Conversation |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |title=Library funding under threat over' culture war' same-sex book ban |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/library-funding-under-threat-over-culture-war-same-sex-book-ban/psbza38ov |archive-date=26 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240526111701/https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/library-funding-under-threat-over-culture-war-same-sex-book-ban/psbza38ov |url-status=live |first=Jessica |last=Bahr |date=8 May 2024 |access-date=2024-05-15 |website=SBS News |language=en}} The ban was passed with the support of the two other OLC councillors, Paul Garrard and Helen Hughes.{{Cite news |last=McLeod |first=Catie |date=2024-05-09 |title=Sydney council's 'ridiculous' same-sex parents book ban could be overturned as backlash grows |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/article/2024/may/09/sydney-cumberland-council-same-sex-book-ban-could-be-overturned |archive-date=26 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240526114253/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/article/2024/may/09/sydney-cumberland-council-same-sex-book-ban-could-be-overturned |url-status=live |access-date=2024-05-15 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}
On 15 May, the ban was repealed with Garrard and Hughes voting against it, while Christou continued to support it.{{Cite news |archive-date=16 May 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240516012651/https://www.localelections.com.au/post/what-just-happened-six-councillors-switch-sides-in-cumberland-city-council-same-sex-parents-book-ba |last=Puglisi |first=Leonardo |date=2024-05-15 |title=What just happened? Six councillors switch sides in Cumberland City Council same-sex parents book ban vote |url=https://www.localelections.com.au/post/what-just-happened-six-councillors-switch-sides-in-cumberland-city-council-same-sex-parents-book-ba |quote=Two of the three Our Local Community councillors, Garrard and Helen Hughes, flipped to support removing the ban, leaving Steve Christou with only independent Eddy Sarkis for support. |access-date=2024-05-16 |work=Local Elections Australia |language=en|publisher=6 News Australia}}
=2024 elections=
At the 2024 local elections, the party intends to seek re-election in Canada Bay, Cumberland and Parramatta, as well as contest Canterbury-Bankstown, Liverpool and several rural areas. The party has pledged to ban Welcome to Country and smoking ceremonies if elected to a majority in Cumberland.{{cite web |last1=Brennan |first1=Dechlan |title=Councillors look to ditch Welcome to Country, smoking ceremonies post referendum |url=https://nit.com.au/10-01-2024/9258/councillors-look-to-ditch-welcome-to-country-smoking-ceremonies-post-referendum |publisher=National Indigenous Times |access-date=9 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240225131449/https://nit.com.au/10-01-2024/9258/councillors-look-to-ditch-welcome-to-country-smoking-ceremonies-post-referendum |archive-date=25 February 2024 |date=10 January 2024}}{{cite web |title=Former Mayor's big call on Welcome to Country ceremonies |url=https://www.parranews.com.au/2024/01/former-mayors-big-call-on-welcome-to-country-ceremonies/ |publisher=Parra News |access-date=9 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240406030853/https://www.parranews.com.au/2024/01/former-mayors-big-call-on-welcome-to-country-ceremonies/ |archive-date=6 April 2024 |date=17 January 2024}}
State and federal politics
Although the party is registered for local elections in New South Wales, it is not registered for state elections or with the Australian Electoral Commission for federal elections. However, a number of OLC members have contested elections as independents.
Michelle Garrard achieved 4% of the vote in Parramatta at the 2019 state election, running on behalf of the party.{{cite web |title=MICHELLE GARRARD – Our Local Community (OLC) PARRAMATTA STATE ELECTIONS Independent CANDIDATE |url=https://www.facebook.com/OLCParramatta/posts/media-releasemichelle-garrard-our-local-community-olc-parramatta-state-elections/1010868622440801/ |website=Facebook |publisher=Our Local Community - Parramatta}}{{cite web |title=Parramatta - NSW Election 2019 |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/elections/nsw/2019/guide/parr |publisher=ABC News}} Christou ran in Parramatta at the 2022 federal election. He had 3.5% of the vote.[https://results.aec.gov.au/27966/Website/HouseDivisionPage-27966-140.htm Parramatta, NSW], 2022 Tally Room, Australian Electoral Commission.
In May 2024, Paul Garrard said the potential for OLC to run candidates in state elections "has been discussed" but the party "is not there yet".
Ideology and ideals
Paul Garrard has described OLC as "centre-right" and Christou has described it as "right-wing conservative".
The party's stated aims are to "encourage participation by the community in a wide range of activities and services, to improve local infrastructure in the best interests of residents and the wider community and endeavour to provide an active voice in addressing various social issues".{{cite web |title=Constitution of 'Our Local Community' |url=https://elections.nsw.gov.au/nswec/media/nswec/registers/register%20of%20parties/local%20government%20registered/our_local_community.pdf |publisher=New South Wales Electoral Commission |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230604112911/https://elections.nsw.gov.au/nswec/media/nswec/registers/register%20of%20parties/local%20government%20registered/our_local_community.pdf |access-date=4 June 2023|archive-date=2023-06-04 }}
Election results
=Council-by-council=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| rowspan="2" | Year
! rowspan="2" | Council ! colspan="2" | Seats ! colspan="3" | Votes |
|---|
| Seats won
! ± ! Total ! % ! ±% |
| rowspan="3" | 2017
| {{Composition bar|0|15|hex=#118080}} | align="center" | {{steady}} | align="center" | 16,440 | align="center" | 10.1 | align="center" | {{increase}} 10.1 |
| Cumberland
| {{Composition bar|2|15|hex=#118080}} | align="center" | {{increase}} 2 | align="center" | 12,820 | align="center" | 14.3 | align="center" | {{increase}} 14.3 |
| Parramatta
| {{Composition bar|2|15|hex=#118080}} | align="center" | {{increase}} 2 | align="center" | 6,990 | align="center" | 7.1 | align="center" | {{increase}} 7.1 |
| rowspan="5" | 2021
| {{Composition bar|2|15|hex=#118080}} | align="center" | {{steady}} | align="center" | 12,867 | align="center" | 27.1 | align="center" | {{increase}} 27.1 |
| Cumberland
| {{Composition bar|2|8|hex=#118080}} | align="center" | {{increase}} 2 | align="center" | 12,820 | align="center" | 28.3 | align="center" | {{increase}} 14.0 |
| Fairfield
| {{Composition bar|0|9|hex=#118080}} | align="center" | {{steady}} | align="center" | 2,880 | align="center" | 3.1 | align="center" | {{increase}} 3.1 |
| Parramatta
| {{Composition bar|4|15|hex=#118080}} | align="center" | {{increase}} 2 | align="center" | 21,476 | align="center" | 19.4 | align="center" | {{increase}} 12.3 |
| Randwick
| {{Composition bar|0|15|hex=#118080}} | align="center" | {{steady}} | align="center" | 3,067 | align="center" | 4.5 | align="center" | {{increase}} 4.5 |
| rowspan="5" | 2024
| {{Composition bar|3|8|hex=#118080}} | align="center" | {{increase}} | align="center" | TBD | align="center" | TBD | align="center" | {{increase}} TBD |
| Canterbury-Bankstown
|{{Composition bar|1|15|hex=#118080}} |{{steady}} |TBD |TBD |{{increase}} TBD |
| Fairfield
| {{Composition bar|0|9|hex=#118080}} | align="center" | {{steady}} | align="center" | TBD | align="center" | TBD | align="center" | {{increase}} TBD |
| Parramatta
| {{Composition bar|0|15|hex=#118080}} | align="center" | {{increase}} | align="center" | TBD | align="center" | TBD | align="center" | {{increase}} TBD |
| Randwick
| {{Composition bar|0|15|hex=#118080}} | align="center" | {{steady}} | align="center" | TBD | align="center" | TBD | align="center" | {{increase}} TBD |
=Mayoral=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| rowspan="2" | Year
! rowspan="2" | Council ! rowspan="2" | Candidate ! colspan="3" | Votes ! rowspan="2" | Result |
|---|
| Total
! % ! ±% |
| rowspan="3" | 2021
| align="center" | 18,014 | align="center" | 37.1 | align="center" | {{increase}} 37.1 | align="center"; style=background:#76FF7A | Won |