At least 26 Queensland councils look set to welcome new mayors following the March 28 local government elections with several other contests still too close to call.
Local Government Association of Queensland CEO Greg Hallam said voters had backed incumbent mayors in the major regional centres including Cairns, Townsville, Mackay, Gladstone, Rockhampton, Bundaberg, Toowoomba, Fraser Coast, the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast.
“So far we have 36 incumbent mayors returned including 14 who were re-elected unopposed,” Mr Hallam said, based on LGAQ analysis of initial results.
“At least 26 new mayors will also be elected, according to the early vote,” he said.
Seven are councillors stepping up to the top job and three are former mayors or councillors including former Diamantina Mayor Robbie Dare and former Charters Towers Mayor Frank Beveridge, who both are predicted to win. Former Logan City councillor Darren Power is on track to lead the council out of administration.
Mr Hallam said at least twelve sitting rural, remote and Indigenous mayors look to be behind on the early vote, in councils including the Southern Downs, Balonne, Murweh, Diamantina, Gympie, Cassowary Coast, Charters Towers, Aurukun, Napranum, Hope Vale, Kowanyama and Cherbourg.
A further 22 other contests were at this stage too close to call.
“On current trends this would see a quarter of incumbent mayors turn over, potentially the lowest rate in the last two decades,” he said.
“This mirrors research conducted by the LGAQ in the lead-up to the elections which showed community satisfaction and trust in local councils was on the increase.”
Mr Hallam thanked Queensland voters for turning out in the numbers they did to have their say in what were extraordinary circumstances.
“I would also like to acknowledge Queensland’s Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and the Electoral Commission for their unprecedented efforts to ensure this election was able to be conducted amid the evolving COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.
“There has never been more important time to ensure the community has strong leaders in place.”
Mr Hallam noted the Premier’s announcement of a review into the elections following technical difficulties experienced during the preliminary count on Saturday night.
“There are always lessons to be learnt and this has been an extraordinary time,” he said.
“We would support any review, but the priority right now has to be on ensuring the swift determination of the results to enable these newly elected mayors and councillors to resume the critical role they play in delivering essential community services and leading local disaster responses.”
For more information, please contact:
Sarah Vogler, Media Executive
Local Government Association of Queensland