South Burnett Mayor Wayne Kratzmann has called for Queensland’s Electoral Commissioner to be sacked.
The Mayor said the conduct of the March 19 local government elections was disgraceful.
“There are 18,800 votes to be counted in the South Burnett,” the Mayor said.
“But right now, almost two weeks after the election, we are still waiting for a result.
“This is a bureaucratic nightmare and a complete disgrace.”
Mayor Kratzmann said he had personally conducted eight Council elections when he was Deputy CEO of the former Wondai Shire Council.
On those occasions, election results were always declared on election night or early the next day.
“We knew how important election results were and if we didn’t have the job done by 9:00pm on Saturday night we’d just keep on working until it was done.
“I know the numbers are bigger for the South Burnett region, but I’m certain I could sit down with Taabinga State School’s Year 6 students and count 18,800 votes in less than 24 hours, including preferences.”
The Mayor said he could see no good reason for the delays in vote counting, given that a very large number of pre-poll votes were cast in the week leading up to the election.
“Counting on those should have begun immediately the polls closed,” the Mayor said.
“And since it was obvious on election night some Divisions and the Mayor’s job were going to be decided on preferences, I can’t see any reason why preference counting wasn’t begun very early on too.”
The Mayor said the delay in announcing the South Burnett’s election results had already led to the postponement of a training day for new Councillors that had been scheduled to be held on Friday, April 1.
He was now concerned any further delays might also lead to the postponement of the new Council’s first meeting, which is scheduled for Thursday, April 7.
“There are a lot of things happening across our region which need the attention of the Mayor and Councillors right now,” he said.
“Residents should not be expected to tolerate our region being effectively shut down for two weeks because the Electoral Commission can’t tally up 19,000 votes.”
The Mayor said the counting delay had also had effects on his own personal life.
“I left my office on Tuesday and said goodbye to all the staff because I was told the results had to be announced on Wednesday.
“And as soon as I got home I gathered up all of my 89 ties and threw them in the bin.
“But I’m still Mayor until a new Mayor has been declared.
“So now it looks like I’ll need to go to Coppards to buy a new tie for my handover meeting with the next Mayor, whoever that turns out to be and whenever that meeting occurs.
“This situation is a joke.”
- Related article: Voting Result Delay Upsets Locals
