David Crisafulli
June 5, 2014
Council CEOs will once again be able to organise local government elections under changes proposed to the Local Government Electoral Act.
Local Government Minister David Crisafulli said the changes, which have been introduced to Parliament, were designed to make council elections simpler and cheaper.
“The Newman Government believes local councils are best placed to make the right decisions for their communities,” Mr Crisafulli said.
“One of the biggest complaints coming out of the 2012 council elections was the lack of local knowledge shown at polling booths.
“Under the proposed changes, a council could choose to use its own Chief Executive Officer, who understands the area, to run the election.
“This would save councils money by allowing them to choose affordable polling stations and use local staff.”
The CEO would be required to submit an election plan to the Electoral Commission of Queensland that included details of the staff to be appointed and the location of polling booths.
Mr Crisafulli said the ECQ would maintain overall responsibility for the election.
“We want people to cast their vote for their local representatives knowing the election is being run as efficiently and fairly as possible,” he said
Other significant changes include:
- Allowing the ECQ to declare the mayoral result independently of the election results for councillors
- Allowing voters to preference their choice for mayor in an undivided council
- Requiring candidates to register their how-to-vote cards with the ECQ
- Extending the postal vote option to all registered voters
- Introducing proof of identity to vote at polling booths to align with state requirements
- Increase the maximum penalty of one year imprisonment to seven years imprisonment for giving false or misleading information to a Returning Officer or the ECQ
