VCAT voids Lalor Ward’s 2024 local Council election result

Published on 09 May 2025

The City of Whittlesea notes the decision and findings released on 8 May 2025 by the Victorian Civil Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) of attempted and actual interference in the Lalor Ward election held in the October 2024 Local Government elections, and the determination that the election result for this Ward is void.

Stevan Kozmevski was declared the successful candidate in the Lalor Ward 2024 election and as a result of the VCAT decision, Mr Kozmevski no longer holds the office of Councillor with immediate effect.

VCAT and the VEC have made no suggestion that Mr Kozmevski was involved in the fraud. Council thanks Mr Kozmevski for his service to the City of Whittlesea community over many years, across a number of Council terms.

Council is not responsible for holding local government elections, they are conducted by the VEC, and residents enrolled to vote in the Lalor Ward will be required to vote in a by-election. The dates of this are yet to be confirmed.

While the role of Lalor Ward Councillor remains vacant, residents of the ward are advised to direct enquiries on Council business to the Mayor, Deputy Mayor or the broader Councillor group.