# 2024 New South Wales local elections

The 2024 New South Wales local elections were held on 14 September 2024 to elect the councils of 127 of the 128 local government areas (LGAs) in New South Wales, Australia. 37 councils also held mayoral elections, and eight councils conducted referendums.
The New South Wales Electoral Commission (NSWEC) conducted the elections for 125 councils, while the private Australian Election Company conducted the elections for Fairfield and Liverpool. No election was held for Central Darling as the council was under administration.

## Background
### Liverpool investigation

On 26 April 2024, Minister for Local Government Ron Hoenig announced an investigation into Liverpool City Council "amid ongoing reports about dysfunction and staff matters within council".
The investigation concluded on 18 July, and Hoenig announced he intended to defer Liverpool's election and suspend the council because of "widespread and serious concerns about dysfunction".
On 5 September, it was announced that the election would proceed and Hoenig backed down on his threat to suspend Liverpool City Council, awaiting the report of a further inquiry into the council's governance.

## Electoral system

Like at state elections, New South Wales local elections use optional preferential voting. Under this system, voters are only required to vote for one candidate or group, although they can choose to preference other candidates. The majority of mayors are elected by councillors at council meetings, although 37 were directly-elected in 2024 (an increase from 35 in 2021).
All elections for councillor positions are elected using proportional representation. Some councils use a single ballot paper, while others have an Australian Senate-style ballot paper with above-the-line and below-the-line voting. Councils can be either undivided or be divided into wards ranging from two-member to five-member.
Voting is compulsory for anyone on the New South Wales state electoral roll. Property owners, rate-paying occupiers or lessees can apply to be on the "non-residential roll" in an LGA, as long as they are not already enrolled as a resident in that area and if they are eligible to be enrolled for state and federal elections. Voting is not compulsory for those on non-residential rolls, although it is still compulsory in the LGA where they are on the residential roll.

### Business vote in Sydney

In 2014, then-Liberal premier Mike Baird introduced a law for that gave businesses that own, lease, or occupy rateable land in the City of Sydney two votes each. Voting for businesses in Sydney also became compulsory. Many critics saw the decision as an attempt by the Liberals to unseat Clover Moore as lord mayor. The business vote came into effect at the 2016 election and was again in force at the 2021 election.
Following Labor's victory at the 2023 state election, independent MP Alex Greenwich wrote to the new local government minister, Ron Hoenig, requesting that the business vote was removed.
On 13 September 2023 Hoenig formally announced that the business vote would be removed, starting at the 2024 election. Eligible people will still be able to apply to be on the non-residential roll, however only one person would now be entitled to be enrolled on behalf of non-residents − the same as all other LGAs.

## Party changes before elections

A number of councillors joined or left parties before the 2024 elections.
| Council | Ward | Councillor | Former party | New party | Date |
| Snowy Valleys | Unsubdivided | John Larter | Independent | Independent Liberal Democrats | 16 December 2021 |
| Hilltops | Unsubdivided | Matthew Stadtmiller | Independent | Labor | 2022 |
| Campbelltown | Unsubdivided | George Brticevic | Labor | Independent | 28 January 2022 |
| Campbelltown | Unsubdivided | Margaret Chiversa | Labor | Independent | 28 January 2022 |
| Liverpool | South | Karress Rhodes | Community Independents | Independent | 7 April 2022 |
| Forbes | Unsubdivided | Steve Karaitiana | Independent | Shooters, Fishers, Farmers | 5 May 2022 |
| Lake Macquarie | North | Colin Grigg | Lake Mac Independents | One Nation | 17 May 2022 |
| Hay | Unsubdivided | Jenny Dwyer | Independent | Independent National | 2 June 2022 |
| Penrith | North | Jonathan Pullen | Labor | Independent | 27 June 2022 |
| Dubbo | Wellington | Jess Gough | Ben Shields Team | Independent | 18 August 2022 |
| Broken Hill | Unsubdivided | Dave Gallagher | National | Independent | 23 September 2022 |
| Hilltops | Unsubdivided | Matthew Stadtmiller | Labor | Independent | 27 October 2022 |
| Bega Valley | Unsubdivded | Russell Fitzpatrick | Independent | Liberal | 24 November 2022 |
| Port Macquarie-Hastings | Mayor | Peta Pinson | Independent | National | 9 December 2022 |
| Orange | Unsubdivided | Glenn Floyd | Shooters, Fishers, Farmers | Independent | 13 December 2022 |
| Singleton | Unsubdivided | Mel McLachlan | Shooters, Fishers, Farmers | Independent | 13 December 2022 |
| Coolamon | Unsubdivided | Jeremy Crocker | Shooters, Fishers, Farmers | Independent | Unknown date |
| Parramatta | Dundas | Kellie Darley | Kellie Darley Independents | Community Champions | 28 April 2023 |
| Blue Mountains | Ward 4 | Brendan Christie | Liberal | Independent | 3 July 2023 |
| Sydney | Unsubdivided | Yvonne Weldon | Unite for Sydney | Yvonne Weldon Independents | 19 July 2023 |
| Hawkesbury | Unsubdivided | Nathan Zamprogno | Independent Liberal | Independent | 5 September 2023 |
| Lane Cove | Central | Kathy Bryla | Labor | Independent | 6 September 2023 |
| Bega Valley | Unsubdivded | Russell Fitzpatrick | Liberal | Independent | 2023 or 2024 |
| Cessnock | D Ward | Paul Paynter | Cessnock Independents | Liberal | 22 January 2024 |
| Northern Beaches | Pittwater | Michael Gencher | Your Northern Beaches | Liberal | 28 January 2024 |
| Cumberland | Greystanes | Eddy Sarkis | Our Local Community | Independent | February 2024 |
| Strathfield | Unsubdivided | Sandy Reddy | Strathfield Independents | Liberal | 27 February 2024 |
| Nambucca Valley | Unsubdivided | David Jones | Independent | Greens | 28 June 2024 |
| Campbelltown | Unsubdivided | Josh Cotter | Community First Team | Community First Totally Independent | 11 July 2024 |
| Campbelltown | Unsubdivided | Warren Morrison | Totally Locally Committed | Community First Totally Independent | 11 July 2024 |
| Snowy Valleys | Unsubdivided | John Larter | Independent Libertarian | Libertarian | 17 July 2024 |
| Gunnedah | Unsubdivided | Jamie Chaffey | Independent | Independent National | 5 August 2024 |

## Political parties

The following registered parties contested the local elections:
* Animal Justice Party
* Greens
* Labor Party
* Liberal Party
* Libertarian
* Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party
* The Small Business Party
* Socialist Alliance
* Sustainable Australia Party
In addition, a number of local government-registered parties also contested.

## Candidates

A total of 3,889 candidates contested the elections for both mayoral and councillor positions. Of that, 1,635 candidates were contesting councillor and mayoral positions in Greater Sydney LGAs. Candidate nominations closed at midday on 14 August 2024.
The Greens had 376 councillor candidates and 22 mayoral candidates. More than 50 candidates were from a Hellenic background.

### Liberal Party missed deadline

On the day that nominations closed, the Liberal Party revealed they had missed the deadline to nominate 164 candidates in 16 different LGAs. The error was described by Liberal leader Mark Speakman as "probably the worst act of mismanagement" in the party's history.
One day later, on 15 August 2024, the Liberal Party state executive resolved to terminate the employment of its state director, Richard Shields. Shields said party president Don Harwin volunteered to run the nomination process so he could maintain his focus on the next federal election.
Harwin requested that the NSWEC reopened nominations for another seven days, but his request was denied. The party then briefly considered taking legal action against the NSWEC, but ultimately decided against doing so.

## Campaign

The Libertarian Party campaigned on ending "woke agendas", smart cities, and cutting council rates, and the party was given a higher chance of winning in areas where the Liberal Party had failed to nominate candidates. This was the party's largest-ever local elections campaign.
In Cumberland, Our Local Community (OLC) pledged to ban Welcome to Country and smoking ceremonies if elected to a majority. Shoalhaven Independents Group pledged to re-introduce Australia Day Awards and citizenship ceremonies on 26 January if the party gained control of Shoalhaven City Council.
More than 50 campaign signs for the Matt Gould Team were vandalised in Wollondilly.

### Housing

Housing was seen as a significant issue in the elections, especially in Greater Sydney. Senior officials in the state government were reportedly "bracing for unpredictable election results" that would threaten the housing policies of the Labor government.
A survey conducted by The Sydney Morning Herald found that "protecting local heritage" was the main priority for many candidates in Greater Sydney.

### Israel–Hamas war

The Israel–Hamas war was the subject of campaigning in the local elections. A group called "Better Council" targeted Greens candidates in the LGAs of Inner West, Randwick, Waverley and Woollahra over the party's "[focus] on radicalism". The group's spokesperson is Sophie Calland, a member of the Labor Party.
Another group, called "We Vote For Palestine", asked candidates to sign their pledge, which included supporting a ceasefire and divesting from Israel.
A number of Labor and Liberal campaign signs in Inner West Council were vandalised with "Boycott Israel" and "This Candidate Votes For Genocide" stickers.

## Results

| Party | Party | Party | Votes | % | Swing | Seats | Change |
| | Independents | Independents | 1,386,557 | 32.57 | −0.16 | 722 | 54 |
| | Labor | Labor | 1,107,839 | 26.02 | −0.65 | 162 | 26 |
| | Liberal | Liberal | 750,296 | 17.62 | +0.10 | 110 | 17 |
| | Greens | Greens | 411,999 | 9.68 | +0.84 | 73 | 8 |
| | Libertarian | Libertarian | 87,056 | 2.04 | +1.93 | 10 | 10 |
| | Your Northern Beaches | Your Northern Beaches | 71,095 | 1.67 | +0.52 | 7 | 1 |
| | Independent Liberal | Independent Liberal | 44,647 | 1.05 | −1.33 | 16 | 8 |
| | Our Local Community | Our Local Community | 42,834 | 1.01 | −0.80 | 5 | 5 |
| | Independent National | Independent National | 36,336 | 0.85 | +0.45 | 37 | 28 |
| | Shoalhaven Independents Group | Shoalhaven Independents Group | 30,231 | 0.71 | +0.03 | 6 | 2 |
| | Dai Le | Dai Le | 30,052 | 0.71 | +0.24 | 3 | |
| | Lake Mac Independents | Lake Mac Independents | 28,530 | 0.67 | +0.05 | 3 | |
| | Clover Moore Independent Team | Clover Moore Independent Team | 28,201 | 0.66 | −0.43 | 3 | 1 |
| | Residents and Ratepayers | Residents and Ratepayers | 24,839 | 0.58 | +0.17 | 5 | 1 |
| | Community Voice of Australia | Community Voice of Australia | 23,222 | 0.55 | +0.55 | 3 | 3 |
| | Community First Totally Independent | Community First Totally Independent | 17,494 | 0.41 | +0.41 | 3 | 3 |
| | Animal Justice | Animal Justice | 15,634 | 0.37 | +0.13 | 0 | 1 |
| | Independent Labor | Independent Labor | 14,362 | 0.34 | +0.26 | 16 | 15 |
| | Sustainable Australia | Sustainable Australia | 13,865 | 0.33 | +0.15 | 1 | 1 |
| | Community Champions | Community Champions | 12,735 | 0.30 | +0.30 | 1 | 1 |
| | Peaceful Bayside | Peaceful Bayside | 11,536 | 0.27 | +0.27 | 2 | 2 |
| | Shooters, Fishers and Farmers | Shooters, Fishers and Farmers | 10,619 | 0.25 | −0.05 | 4 | 1 |
| | Residents First Woollahra | Residents First Woollahra | 9,393 | 0.22 | −0.05 | 5 | |
| | Yvonne Weldon Independents | Yvonne Weldon Independents | 8,144 | 0.19 | +0.19 | 1 | 1 |
| | Liverpool Community Independents Team | Liverpool Community Independents Team | 7,547 | 0.18 | −0.09 | 1 | 1 |
| | Serving Mosman | Serving Mosman | 7,062 | 0.17 | 0.00 | 3 | 1 |
| | Central Coast Heart | Central Coast Heart | 3,799 | 0.09 | +0.09 | 0 | |
| | Lorraine Wearne Independents | Lorraine Wearne Independents | 3,722 | 0.09 | −0.15 | 1 | |
| | Australia Multinational Unity Inc | Australia Multinational Unity Inc | 3,715 | 0.09 | +0.09 | 0 | |
| | Small Business | Small Business | 3,474 | 0.08 | −0.22 | 1 | |
| | Strathfield Independents | Strathfield Independents | 3,401 | 0.08 | −0.02 | 1 | 1 |
| | Battler | Battler | 1,848 | 0.04 | +0.04 | 0 | |
| | Socialist Alliance | Socialist Alliance | 1,691 | 0.04 | −0.03 | 0 | |
| | Australian Christians | Australian Christians | 1,585 | 0.04 | +0.04 | 0 | |
| | Australian Democrats | Australian Democrats | 967 | 0.02 | +0.02 | 0 | |
| | Independent One Nation | Independent One Nation | 757 | 0.02 | +0.02 | 0 | |
| | Family First | Family First | 241 | 0.01 | +0.01 | 0 | |
| | Public Education Party | Public Education Party | 82 | 0.00 | +0.00 | 0 | |
| | Independent United Australia | Independent United Australia | | | | 1 | 1 |
| Formal votes | Formal votes | Formal votes | 4,257,457 | | | | |
| Registered voters / turnout | Registered voters / turnout | Registered voters / turnout | | | | | |

### Council totals

| LGA | Seats (excluding directly-elected mayors) | Seats (excluding directly-elected mayors) | Seats (excluding directly-elected mayors) | Seats (excluding directly-elected mayors) | Seats (excluding directly-elected mayors) | Seats (excluding directly-elected mayors) |
| LGA | Labor | Liberal | Greens | Libertarian | Independents | Others |
| Albury | 1 | Did not contest | 1 | Did not contest | 7 | Did not contest |
| Armidale | 1 | Did not contest | 1 | Did not contest | 7 | Did not contest |
| Ballina | 0 | 0 | 3 | Did not contest | 6 | 0 |
| Balranald | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 8 | Did not contest |
| Bathurst | Did not contest | Did not contest | 1 | Did not contest | 1 | 7 |
| Bayside | 6 | 5 | 1 | Did not contest | 1 | 2 |
| Bega Valley | 2 | Did not contest | 1 | Did not contest | 6 | 0 |
| Bellingen | Did not contest | Did not contest | 2 | Did not contest | 3 | 1 |
| Berrigan | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 7 | Did not contest |
| Blacktown | 8 | 6 | 1 | Did not contest | 0 | 0 |
| Bland | 1 | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 7 | 1 |
| Blayney | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 6 | 1 |
| Blue Mountains | 9 | Did not contest | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Bogan | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 9 | Did not contest |
| Bourke | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 9 | Did not contest |
| Brewarrina | Did not contest | Did not contest | 1 | Did not contest | 8 | Did not contest |
| Broken Hill | 2 | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 7 | Did not contest |
| Burwood | 4 | 2 | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 0 |
| Byron | 2 | 0 | 3 | Did not contest | 0 | 3 |
| Cabonne | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 8 | 1 |
| Camden | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| Campbelltown | 6 | Did not contest | 2 | Did not contest | 1 | 6 |
| Canada Bay | 3 | 4 | 1 | Did not contest | 0 | 0 |
| Canterbury-Bankstown | 8 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Carrathool | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 10 | Did not contest |
| Central Coast | 5 | 5 | 0 | Did not contest | 5 | 0 |
| Central Darling | No election | No election | No election | No election | No election | No election |
| Cessnock | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Clarence Valley | Did not contest | Did not contest | 1 | Did not contest | 6 | 2 |
| Cobar | Did not contest | 1 | Did not contest | Did not contest | 11 | Did not contest |
| Coffs Harbour | 1 | Did not contest | 1 | Did not contest | Did not contest | 6 |
| Coolamon | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 8 | 1 |
| Coonamble | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 9 | Did not contest |
| Cootamundra-Gundagai | 1 | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 7 | 1 |
| Cowra | 1 | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 7 | 1 |
| Cumberland | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Dubbo | 3 | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 6 | 2 |
| Dungog | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 9 | Did not contest |
| Edward River | Did not contest | 2 | Did not contest | Did not contest | 7 | 0 |
| Eurobodalla | 1 | Did not contest | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Fairfield | 2 | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 1 | 10 |
| Federation | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 7 | 2 |
| Forbes | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 8 | 1 |
| Georges River | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| Gilgandra | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 7 | 2 |
| Glen Innes Severn | Did not contest | Did not contest | 1 | Did not contest | 5 | 1 |
| Goulburn Mulwaree | 2 | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 4 | 3 |
| Greater Hume | Did not contest | 0 | Did not contest | Did not contest | 9 | Did not contest |
| Griffith | Did not contest | 1 | Did not contest | Did not contest | 8 | Did not contest |
| Gunnedah | 1 | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 4 | 3 |
| Gwydir | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 9 | 0 |
| Hawkesbury | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
| Hay | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 8 | Did not contest |
| Hilltops | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 11 | Did not contest |
| Hornsby | 2 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Hunter's Hill | Did not contest | 4 | Did not contest | Did not contest | 2 | Did not contest |
| Inner West | 7 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Inverell | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 9 | Did not contest |
| Junee | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 5 | 3 |
| Kempsey | Did not contest | Did not contest | 1 | Did not contest | 7 | Did not contest |
| Kiama | 2 | Did not contest | 1 | Did not contest | Did not contest | 6 |
| Ku-ring-gai | Did not contest | 4 | Did not contest | Did not contest | 6 | Did not contest |
| Kyogle | 0 | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 9 | Did not contest |
| Lachlan | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 9 | Did not contest |
| Lake Macquarie | 5 | 3 | 0 | Did not contest | 1 | 3 |
| Lane Cove | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Leeton | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 7 | 2 |
| Lismore | 2 | Did not contest | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| Lithgow | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 9 | Did not contest |
| Liverpool | 4 | 5 | Did not contest | | | |
| Liverpool Plains | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 7 | 0 |
| Lockhart | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 9 | Did not contest |
| Maitland | 4 | 1 | 0 | Did not contest | 7 | 0 |
| Mid-Coast | 2 | Did not contest | 2 | 3 | 5 | Did not contest |
| Mid-Western | 1 | Did not contest | 0 | Did not contest | 8 | 0 |
| Moree Plains | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 9 | Did not contest |
| Mosman | 0 | Did not contest | 1 | Did not contest | 1 | 4 |
| Murray River | Did not contest | 0 | Did not contest | Did not contest | 9 | Did not contest |
| Murrumbidgee | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 9 | Did not contest |
| Muswellbrook | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| Nambucca Valley | 1 | Did not contest | 1 | Did not contest | 6 | Did not contest |
| Narrabri | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 9 | Did not contest |
| Narrandera | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 9 | Did not contest |
| Narromine | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 7 | 2 |
| Newcastle | 5 | 2 | 3 | Did not contest | 2 | 1 |
| North Sydney | 2 | 2 | 1 | Did not contest | 5 | 0 |
| Northern Beaches | 0 | 1 | 4 | Did not contest | 2 | 8 |
| Oberon | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 9 | 0 |
| Orange | 1 | Did not contest | 1 | Did not contest | 9 | Did not contest |
| Parkes | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| Parramatta | 6 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Penrith | 9 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | Did not contest |
| Port Macquarie-Hastings | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| Port Stephens | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Queanbeyan-Palerang | 3 | 3 | 1 | Did not contest | 1 | 3 |
| Randwick | 6 | 5 | 3 | Did not contest | 1 | Did not contest |
| Richmond Valley | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 2 | 4 |
| Ryde | 3 | 7 | 1 | Did not contest | 1 | Did not contest |
| Shellharbour | 3 | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 5 | Did not contest |
| Shoalhaven | 3 | Did not contest | 0 | Did not contest | 3 | 6 |
| Singleton | 2 | Did not contest | 0 | 1 | 6 | Did not contest |
| Snowy Monaro | 2 | 1 | 0 | Did not contest | 6 | 2 |
| Snowy Valleys | Did not contest | 1 | Did not contest | 1 | 7 | 0 |
| Strathfield | 2 | 3 | 0 | Did not contest | 2 | 0 |
| Sutherland | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Sydney | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Tamworth | 1 | Did not contest | 1 | Did not contest | 7 | Did not contest |
| Temora | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 7 | 2 |
| Tenterfield | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 10 | Did not contest |
| The Hills | 3 | 8 | 1 | Did not contest | 0 | Did not contest |
| Tweed | 1 | 2 | 1 | Did not contest | 1 | 2 |
| Upper Hunter | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 7 | 2 |
| Upper Lachlan | 1 | Did not contest | Did not contest | 1 | 7 | Did not contest |
| Uralla | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 8 | Did not contest |
| Wagga Wagga | 1 | Did not contest | 1 | Did not contest | 0 | 7 |
| Walcha | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 8 | Did not contest |
| Walgett | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 9 | Did not contest |
| Warren | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 11 | 1 |
| Warrumbungle | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 9 | Did not contest |
| Waverley | 3 | 6 | 2 | Did not contest | 1 | 0 |
| Weddin | 1 | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 8 | Did not contest |
| Wentworth | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 6 | 3 |
| Willoughby | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | Did not contest | 12 | Did not contest |
| Wingecarribee | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | Did not contest | 7 |
| Wollondilly | Did not contest | 0 | Did not contest | Did not contest | 8 | Did not contest |
| Wollongong | 7 | Did not contest | 3 | Did not contest | 2 | Did not contest |
| Woollahra | Did not contest | 9 | 1 | Did not contest | Did not contest | 5 |
| Yass Valley | 1 | Did not contest | 1 | Did not contest | 7 | Did not contest |

## Referendums and polls

In addition to the local elections, eight LGAs held referendums and a further two held advisory polls.

### Referendums

| LGA | Question | YES | YES | NO | NO | Informal | Informal | Turnout | Turnout | Ref |
| LGA | Question | Votes | % | Votes | % | Votes | % | Total | % | Ref |
| Central Coast | "Do you favour a reduction in the number of Central Coast Councillors from 15 to 9 and a reduction in the number of wards from 5 to 3, with each ward electing 3 councillors?" | 125,222 | 61.74 | 77,601 | 38.26 | 9,492 | 4.47 | 212,315 | 81.53 | |
| Greater Hume | "Currently Greater Hume Council is divided into three wards that elect 9 councillors in total. - Do you favour abolishing this ward system in favour of a single area consisting of all voters that elects 9 councillors?" | 2,175 | 35.01 | 4,037 | 64.99 | 471 | 7.05 | 6,683 | 81.07 | |
| "Currently Greater Hume Council is divided into three wards that elect 9 councillors in total. - Do you favour making no change to this system; that is three wards and 9 councillors remain?" | 4,140 | 67.70 | 1,975 | 32.30 | 568 | 8.50 | 6,683 | 81.70 |
| Hilltops | "Do you want a reduction in the number of Hilltops Council Councillors from eleven to nine?" | 7,428 | 63.85 | 4,206 | 36.15 | 292 | 2.45 | 11,926 | 81.77 | |
| Kiama | "The Mayor of the Kiama Municipality is currently elected every two (2) years by the nine (9) elected Councillors. Do you want to change to the direct (popular) election of the Mayor by the voters of the Kiama Municipality, for a four (4) year term?" | 6,811 | 45.33 | 8,213 | 54.67 | 400 | 2.59 | 15,424 | 85.69 | |
| Kyogle | "Do you favour the election of the Mayor by electors for a four (4) year term with the number of Wards reduced from three (3) to two (2), each Ward comprising of four (4) Councillors, plus a popularly elected Mayor?" | 2,073 | 37.30 | 3,484 | 62.70 | 192 | 3.34 | 5,749 | 84.05 | |
| Port Macquarie-Hastings | "Do you favour a reduction in the number of Port Macquarie-Hastings Councillors from nine to seven, consisting of the Mayor and six Councillors?" | 29,592 | 51.89 | 27,439 | 48.11 | 2,420 | 4.07 | 59,451 | 84.92 | |
| Uralla | "Are you in favour of the Mayor being elected by the Councillors?" | 1,756 | 47.67 | 1,928 | 52.33 | 144 | 3.76 | 3,828 | 81.46 | |
| "Are you in favour of removing the current ward system so that all electors vote for all Councillors that represent the Uralla Shire Council area?" | 2,462 | 66.88 | 1,219 | 33.12 | 147 | 3.84 | 3,828 | 81.46 |
| Woollahra | "Woollahra Municipal Council currently has 15 Councillors. Do you favour reducing the total number of Councillors from 15 to 9? Please note that a reduction in the number of Councillors will result in a reduction of Wards across the Woollahra Municipal Council Local Government Area, likely to be a reduction of 5 Wards to 3." | 13,818 | 49.02 | 14,373 | 50.98 | 844 | 2.91 | 29,035 | 72.26 | |

## Results analysis
### Labor

Labor had several significant wins, including gaining majorities in Wollongong and Penrith (the latter after all five Labor candidates in East Ward were elected unopposed) and holding off a Greens challenge on Inner West Council. However, the party lost majorities in Canterbury-Bankstown and Cumberland. Labor also suffered swings against them in Fairfield, where the Carbone-Le Alliance was returned to a majority with increased support. Labor's Newcastle lord mayor, Nuatali Nelmes, was also defeated.

### Liberal

The Liberal Party was significantly impacted by its failure to nominate many candidates, but the party won a majority in Ryde (including winning Ryde's first directly-elected mayoral election). The party also returned to having representation in Parramatta, after not endorsing candidates there in 2021. There was an increase in the number of Liberal members elected without party endorsement.

### Greens

The Greens won their first-ever seats in Blacktown and Cumberland, as well as a record amount of seats for the party in Bayside, Campbelltown, Parramatta and Wollongong. However, the party lost votes in Randwick.

### Libertarian

The Libertarian Party benefited in areas where the Liberals were unable to recontest, especially MidCoast Council, where they became the largest party.
This was a record result for the party, which has previously won two seats at the 2012 local elections (under their former "Liberal Democrats" name). The party had the fourth-largest amount of candidates statewide, only behind Labor, the Liberals and the Greens.

### Others

Your Northern Beaches Independent Team returned to being the largest party on Northern Beaches Council after the Liberals failed to nominate candidates.
Our Local Community lost its four seats in Parramatta. The Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party won four seats (one less than 2021 but one more than what the party had before the election), including two councillors elected in Dubbo.