The State Government is calling for public input into possible changes to the way Council elections are run after concerns were raised following last year’s council polls.
Local Government Minister David Crisafulli said a discussion paper on the Local Government Electoral Act had been released to get the ball rolling.
“We inherited a local government sector that had been worn down by years of Labor suspicion and red tape,” Mr Crisafulli said.
“Councils were treated as little more than a collection agency for the State, and we knew an important part of the job of getting Queensland back on track was empowering communities.”
Mr Crisafulli said he visited each local government area in his first six months of office and listened to what councils wanted.
“As a result of these meetings, we introduced more than 150 changes to the Local Government Act and the City of Brisbane Act,” he said.
“This review of council elections is another piece of the jigsaw to make sure councils are positioned to best reflect the wishes of their communities.”
Mr Crisafulli said consultation with councils and the Local Government Association of Queensland would be the hallmark of the latest review, with issues to be resolved including:
- Requiring voters to produce ID before voting – similar to the requirements that now apply to State Government elections
- Providing CEOs with the option of being the returning officer – at present, council elections are run by the Queensland Electoral Commission and the cost is borne by councils
- Electronic voting for voters with a disability – at present, this option does not exist
- Review of postal voting provisions
“Communities know best about what’s right for them, and the changes to the Local Government Electoral Act will reflect that,” Mr Crisafulli said.
The discussion paper can be found at www.dlgcrr.qld.gov.au/haveyoursay
Submissions close on Friday, January 17, 2014.
