In short:
Kim McAliney is set to return to Wyndham City Council six years after resigning, securing a majority of first preferences in the Heathdale Ward by-election. Her return follows a campaign for the seat vacated by Jennie Barrera and brings McAliney back into the chamber with former political rivals.
McAliney Set For Third Council Term
Kim McAliney will make her comeback as a Wyndham councillor six years after quitting office.
McAliney has secured more than 50 per cent of first preferences in the Heathdale by-election, beating out another former councillor, Marcel Mahfoud, and Pippa Pace for the vacant seat.
The election was triggered by the resignation of Jennie Barrera from council on 1 May.
Dr Barrera walked away from council after then-mayor Preet Singh refused to stand down amid public outrage over a reference he provided for a convicted paedophile before his election in 2024.
McAliney’s return also sets up an interesting dynamic in the chamber, following a previous public clash with current councillor Josh Gilligan, who served time on the sidelines over comments made about her.
Gilligan branded McAliney a “raging lunatic” in a September 2025 Facebook tirade launched in response to her calling for monitors to be installed at Wyndham council in a local newspaper article.
Following an internal arbitration process initiated by Councillor Robert Szatkowski, he was suspended for one month on 25 February and lost the mayoralty.
As of 12 August, 74.33 per cent of votes have been counted, with McAliney receiving 5,985 first preferences (52.59 per cent), ahead of Pace with 3,153 (27.70 per cent) and Mahfoud with 2,243 (19.71 per cent).
McAliney is expected to be formally declared elected in the coming days.
Ms McAliney first served on Wyndham City Council from 2005 to 2012, including terms as mayor in 2008 and 2012.
She later returned to council in 2016 and remained in office until her resignation in June 2020.
