{"id":255833,"date":"2020-03-29T13:33:46","date_gmt":"2020-03-29T03:33:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=255833"},"modified":"2020-07-11T12:35:57","modified_gmt":"2020-07-11T02:35:57","slug":"mood-for-change-sweeps-councils","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2020\/03\/29\/mood-for-change-sweeps-councils\/","title":{"rendered":"Mood For Change Sweeps Councils"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>
There wasn’t much chance of catching COVID-19 from the queues outside the polling booth at St John’s Lutheran School in Kingaroy on Saturday<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

March 29, 2020<\/strong><\/p>\n

Results are starting to trickle in from Saturday’s local government elections in Queensland after “technical issues” prevented the Electoral Commission of Queensland from updating its website until late last night.<\/p>\n

Similar issues plagued the counting at the 2016 poll (see our reports: “Mayor Calls For Commissioner’s Sacking<\/a><\/strong>” and “ECQ Slammed In Post-Election Report<\/a><\/strong>“)<\/p>\n

If early trends continue, three out of the four local councils that straddle our region will have new mayors – although it should be noted that postal votes have another 10 days to reach the ECQ and preferences have not been distributed.<\/p>\n

In the South Burnett, accountant Brett Otto is maintaining a lead over incumbent Keith Campbell, although his margin had narrowed on Sunday morning from the first results posted on Saturday evening.<\/p>\n

In Cherbourg, Elvie Sandow had a clear lead over incumbent Arnold Murray.<\/p>\n

In Gympie, Glenn Hartwig also looked to be well ahead on primary votes over sitting mayor Mick Curran.<\/p>\n

However, Mayor Paul Antonio was bucking the trend in Toowoomba, with voters clearly happy with his performance over the past eight years as mayor.<\/p>\n

Polling booths throughout the South Burnett were deserted on Saturday with local residents choosing to either pre-poll, phone or postal vote or risk a fine.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Many were scared of catching COVID-19 while at the booths.<\/p>\n

On social media, people blamed everyone from the candidates themselves to the Prime Minister for the State Government not delaying the poll, with many people saying they were going to stay at home:<\/p>\n

“We take the fine, cheaper than funeral”\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

But others noticed the irony that there were more people at the local supermarkets on Saturday than at the polling booths:<\/p>\n

“Just been and voted and mum and I were the only ones there. More people still at the shops”<\/em><\/p>\n

“I think it is strange that people are complaining about voting but no one is saying that keeping supermarkets open is irresponsible… seems like a double standard to me”<\/em><\/p>\n

Opposition Leader and Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington called on the\u00a0State Government to waive all fines for people who declined to vote and urged that the government consider the option of 100 per cent postal voting for the October 31 State Election.<\/strong><\/p>\n

“I want to thank Queenslanders for voting over the past few weeks under difficult circumstances,” Mrs Frecklington said.<\/p>\n

“The results of these elections will not be known until all the votes are counted, including the many postal votes.<\/p>\n

“It is clear many people didn\u2019t want to risk voting because they were anxious about catching coronavirus.<\/p>\n

“I am calling on the Palaszczuk Labor Government to respond to this in two ways.<\/p>\n

“Firstly, anyone who didn\u2019t vote should not be fined. Secondly, the ECQ should start preparing so the State Election in October can be conducted using a full postal vote.<\/p>\n

“People shouldn\u2019t be worried about their health when they vote.<\/p>\n

“Postal votes are safer than attending a polling booth.”<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
The scene outside the usually busy Taabinga State School at lunchtime on Saturday … no candidates, no supporters handing out how-to-vote cards, but no voters either<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

* * *<\/h2>\n

South Burnett Regional Council<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

Unofficial Primary Count at 4:15pm, Friday:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mayor<\/strong> – 72.31 per cent counted<\/p>\n

*Keith Campbell – 5920
\nAbigail Andersson – 2410
\nBrett Otto – 6440
\nToni Ralph – 1361
\nInformal – 505<\/p>\n

Division 3<\/strong> – 71.82 per cent counted<\/p>\n

Rhonda Trivett – 700
\n*Danita Potter – 2097
\nInformal – 121<\/p>\n

Division 4<\/strong> – 73.43 per cent<\/p>\n

Kirstie Schumacher – 1999
\n*Terry Fleischfresser – 821
\nInformal – 48<\/p>\n

Division 5<\/strong> – 73.63 per cent<\/p>\n

Colleen Bird – 396
\n*Kathy Duff – 2313
\nInformal – 38<\/p>\n

Division 6<\/strong> – 81.24 per cent<\/p>\n

*Ros Heit – 1493
\nScott Henschen – 1479
\nInformal – 89<\/p>\n

* Sitting councillors<\/em><\/p>\n

* * *<\/h2>\n

Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

Unofficial Primary Count at 7:00pm, Thursday:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mayor<\/strong> – 76.76 per cent counted<\/p>\n

Sylvia McGregor – 31
\n*Arnold Murray – 28
\nGordon Wragge – 54
\nElvie Sandow – 119
\nElgan Leedie – 33
\nKatrina Watson – 25
\nMax Conlon – 68
\nLillian Gray – 11
\nInformal – 1<\/p>\n

Councillors<\/strong> – 75.10 per cent counted (four to be elected)<\/p>\n

Bronwyn Douglas – 216
\nLeighton Costello – 213
\nFred Cobbo – 212
\nNorm Hegarty – 113
\n*Tom Langton – 242
\nLynette Brown – 133
\nEric Law Snr – 141
\n*James Saltner – 166
\nInformal – 12<\/p>\n

* Sitting councillors<\/em><\/p>\n

* * *<\/h2>\n

Gympie Regional Council<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

Unofficial Primary Count at 4:15pm, Friday:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mayor<\/strong> – 73.44 per cent counted<\/p>\n

Glen Hartwig – 13,524
\n*Mick Curran \u2013 8903
\nTim Jerome \u2013 4032
\nInformal \u2013 997<\/p>\n

Division 6<\/strong> \u2013 71.94 per cent counted<\/p>\n

*Hilary Smerdon \u2013 1844
\nBrian Thomas \u2013 766
\nMikki Lawson \u2013 6327
\nInformal – 147<\/p>\n

* Sitting councillors<\/em><\/p>\n

* * *<\/h2>\n

Toowoomba Regional Council<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

Unofficial Primary Count at 4:15pm, Friday:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mayor<\/strong> – 69.79 per cent counted<\/p>\n

Douglas Doelle – 6364
\n*Paul Antonio – 56,053
\nChris Meibusch – 14,851
\nInformal – 3103<\/p>\n

Councillors<\/strong>\u00a0 – 64.83 per cent counted (10 to be elected)<\/p>\n

*Bill Cahill – 39,239
\nDavid King – 10,649
\n*Nancy Sommerfield – 38,057
\nLindy Eising – 12,423
\nCarol McCabe – 16,797
\nPetria Grabham – 17,128
\nChelle McIntyre – 14,326
\nMichael Truskinger – 19,196
\nWarren Midgley – 16,053
\nRita Clarke – 11,847
\nRobert Relvas – 8391
\nLizzie Adams – 21,595
\n*Megan O’Hara Sullivan – 41,140
\nKirsten Smolenski – 16,710
\nMichael Flanigan – 17,821
\n*Geoff McDonald – 42,443
\n*James O’Shea – 39,645
\nKevin Flanagan – 21,107
\nRob Berry – 11,798
\nTim Entwistle – 19,078
\nGarry Humphries – 21,359
\nBen Apsey – 19,545
\nMelissa Taylor – 34,335
\nDavid Campbell – 21,430
\nAaron Goldie – 13,219
\nKerry Shine – 29,093
\nAlyce Nelligan – 9892
\nJoy Mingay – 21,577
\n*Carol Taylor – 40,616
\nEakraj Adhikari – 9350
\nTim McMahon – 27,844
\nRebecca Vonhoff – 44,709
\nInformal – 8137<\/p>\n

* Sitting councillors<\/em><\/p>\n

[UPDATED]<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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