The Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) said a recent report from the Electoral Commission of Queensland (ECQ) has revealed its problem-ridden polling management and the need for reforms.
The state’s local government elections in March were run by the ECQ for the first time and the Queensland Government has called in former Australian electoral commissioner, Andy Becker to appraise the Commision’s handling of the poll.
The report, while generally supporting the ECQ’s operations, made nine recommendations, including the need for more experienced staff, outsourcing of postal ballot distribution and the revision of the postal voting cut-off time.
LGAQ president Paul Bell said the report backed councils’ argument that they should be given options to manage local elections themselves or use a professional polling firm instead of the ECQ.
“In its report, the ECQ acknowledges there were particular issues with postal voting, lack of planning and coordination and allocation of resources,” Cr Bell said.
He pointed out the major focus of the report was the deficiency of the postal ballot system.
A total of 27 rural and remote councils in Queensland used the full postal ballot system and only four per cent of postal voters surveyed reported experiencing problems with the postal voting process.
In stark contrast, 71 per cent of respondents randomly selected from election candidates said they were aware of postal voting problems.
“Ballots meant for Winton wound up in Victoria and Lord Mayor votes in Brisbane found their way to the Whitsundays in some more extreme examples,” Cr Bell said.
“I’m hopeful that the ECQ’s report will ensure future generations of votes will at least get their postal ballots in time to cast a valid vote.”
The report, however, rejected the view that councils should be able to self-manage their elections, arguing it would be cost-inefficient.
“As council assets are used, both human and material, the ability to segregate election costs from running costs is extremely difficult," it said.
“It is my firm view that the cost of conducting an election by a professional team dedicated to the task, should be significantly lower than it would be were election management but one occasional function of local administration.”
Other recommendations in the report inlude that state elections be held every four years, that the procedure of absent voting be further simplified and that government consider introducing an electronic voting method.
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