City of Newcastle Government Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal found that Newcastle City Council was not "fit for the future", it was recommended that the City of Newcastle merge with Lake Macquarie City Council. However, the Minister for Local Government subsequently proposed that Newcastle City Council instead merge with Port Stephens Council to form a new council with an area of and support a population of approximately 230,000. The outcome of an independent review was completed by mid–2016. On 14 February 2017, the NSW Government announced it would not be proceeding with further regional council mergers, including the Newcastle City Council and Port
Candidates of the 1918 South Australian state election Candidates of the 1918 South Australian state election This is a list of candidates of the 1918 South Australian state election. There had also been two resignations in the months leading up to the election which had remained unfilled. Sturt National MP Thomas Ryan had resigned on 16 November 1917 following his election to the Parliament of Victoria at the 1917 Victorian election, while Liberal Midland District MLC Edward Lucas had resigned on 1 February 1918 following his appointment as Agent-General for South Australia. In addition, Newcastle Labor MP Andrew Kirkpatrick shifted houses, contesting the Legislative Council in Central District