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
Here! here! Good on you Wayne! This has been an absolute disgrace.
A joke – if it wasn’t so serious it would be the lamest joke going. ‘Watch the results live on the Electoral Commission website’. Looked to be two ‘live’ updates on Saturday evening, nothing done on Sunday as no counting was carried out, and hardly an update since.
The Electoral Commission stated it’s up to the Returning Officer to provide the update (as he/she) sees fit. I don’t see any place for discretionary actions at at local booths when it comes to counting votes or reporting the results.
Just imagine if this was a Federal Election and there was no result for a couple of weeks? Wouldn’t happen! So why is this allowed to happen for a Local Government Election? Oh – did anyone mention there were so few people working at the voting booths those people couldn’t keep up or maybe the same few people are doing the counting.
Just out of interest, is any other Regional Council in Queensland, Lockyer Valley excluded, still awaiting the final results of the LG elections conducted 2 weeks ago? I have to agree with Wayne that it is ludicrous the South Burnett voters are still in the dark as to who will be the new Mayor in particular and the new Councillors in Divisions 1, 2 & 3.
I also pose the question “Why are the results of the aforesaid positions to be decided on preferences when preferential voting was not compulsory?” To get over the line to be declared “the winner”, a candidate needs to have 50% + 1 of the votes after allocation of preferences. In the case of the election of the Mayor, the successful candidate would require approximately 9400 votes. It has been stated that any vote not including any preferences is deemed to be “exhausted” and cannot be used any further.
I for one did not include preferences on my votes and I would hazard a guess that the greater majority of SB voters voted likewise. I just hope, given the situation applicable, that there are sufficient “preferences” to get one of the Mayoral candidates over the line with 50% +1/9400 votes. What happens if that does not occur? Another election with preferential voting this time?
And finally to Wayne, instead of throwing your 89 ties in the bin, you should have donated them to the Salvos and/or St Vinnies. Don’t worry about having to buy a new tie for the official handover, whenever it may take place, you can borrow my Black Caviar tie for the occasion.
You didn’t thow out that lovely blue with silver banding number did you Wayne?
Is there a dark side to elections locally? Let’s hope all is fair and square in paradise.