MULTIPLE 2025 ELECTION RESULTS UNDER SCRUTINY

By Carmelo Amalfi and Michael Southwell
CHALLENGES to the 2025 local government election results in five WA councils including Fremantle were heard in the Court of Disputed Returns today.
Complainants including the cities of Swan and Kalgoorlie-Boulder and shires of Menzies and Gingin alleged vote tampering, ineligibility of candidates and ‘unsafe’ electoral processes such as a lack of scrutineers and use of blank ballots by the WA Electoral Commission.
StreetWise attended the packed proceedings where three councillors from Gingin raised concerns over the lack of a proper chain of custody during the elections in October last year.
Cr Lincoln Stewart told StreetWise his challenge comes three weeks after WA Police charged Gingin president Linda Balcombe’s husband Steven for allegedly having made a series of threatening calls traced to a telephone service registered in his name. These threats also relate to Cr Stewart’s position on council and challenge to the 2025 results.
Cr Stewart said the threats against him, his animals and wildlife sanctuary were first made in May last year when he alerted the Cr Balcombe about the threatening texts and telephone calls. Gingin shire discussed the matter for the first time last week ahead of Mr Balcombe’s appearance in the Midland courts on Tuesday. The charge carries sentences of up to seven years imprisonment.
Flanked by co-complainants Crs Jason Weeks and David Wilkie, Cr Stewart suspected other individuals were aware of and contributed to the threats against him: “These people will be disclosed in the near future after investigations are complete and any potential charges are laid by police or the CCC.”
During public question time at Gingin shire on January 20,  ratepayer Kate Lane asked in relation to the police charges, “in such circumstances any councillor having close associations with the person charged would be expected to recuse themselves from Council until the court proceedings are finalised. It appears that this has not occurred. Could you explain why?”
Cr Balcombe said because the matter was before the courts it could not be spoken about. She said nothing in the Local Government Act required her to stand down.
Ms Lane went on: “The announcement indicates that council may not have been functioning cohesively and is in disarray and unable to act in the best interest of the community. Under these circumstances would it not be preferable to place the shire in administration, pending any outcomes of any investigations?”
Cr Balcombe replied: “That would be up to the department if they felt there was a need.”
Ms Lane came back: “Due to these recent events, how can the shire residents have confidence the decisions reached by council are unbiased, based on fair and even-handed consideration and are not influenced by outside interference and personal prejudice?”

Nothing to see

Cr Balcombe: “All councillors take an oath to uphold their position as councillors and to look at each item that comes to council and treat it respectfully as it should be. I think nothing has changed.”
Far from ‘business as usual’, Gingin ratepayer Meagan Kolbe added: “The organised level of harassment abuse, bullying and hate-speech by a linked group of community members within this shire towards Cr Stewart has made (his role) one of constant fear and stress and has spread to anyone who has similar morals, values and opinions. What is the shire and council doing to make this a safe and ethical workplace for councillors who speak for all ratepayers and residents, not just their mates?”
Cr Balcombe returned to a ‘moving right along’ theme: “(We) all have these issues; all councillors get harassed as public figures. There are things in place such as the code of conduct that we can use to protect ourselves.”
Cr Stewart added there were multiple complaints lodged regarding the conduct of elections in both 2023 and 2025: “It is absolutely essential that the Local Government Act, Local Government (Elections) Regulations and relevant electoral procedures are strictly followed by those administering our elections.
“This Court matter is about ensuring clarity regarding the lawful processes that apply to ballot custody, scrutineer access and observation rights, and whether any procedural failures may have affected the result of the election. That is a question for the Court under the Act, and I am respecting that process.
“I have brought this case because I firmly believe that every voter in the Shire of Gingin should have complete confidence in the integrity of their ballot, the way it is handled, the way it is counted, and the overall outcome of our elections, now and into the future.”
He told StreetWise receiving multiple threats over a prolonged period (27 voice messages and 17 phone calls) has incurred a real emotional and physical toll while trying to serve the community as an elected member.
“Every time I left my home/farm to attend council chambers or social events, I feared for the safety of my animals and what I would return home to. I strongly support freedom of speech, open debate, and the right for anyone to disagree with me, including robust political discussion. However, that right does not extend to threats of violence or harm, which are unacceptable in any context.”
Former Fremantle councillor Marija Vujcic on behalf of the Greater Fremantle Community & Business Association Inc raised the issue of WAEC’s questionable and unaccountable use of blank ballots.
Magistrate Trevor Darge addressed each of the parties’ complaints and set hearings over the next few months to hear submissions and eyewitness statements.
Magistrate Darge said while he was not a “punishing authority” elections may have to be re-run in those local authorities.
Additional reports at www.streetwisemedia.com.au.