The #HandsOffMyCouncil campaign focuses specifically on far-reaching electoral reform changes proposed by the Government which include the public funding of election campaigns, compulsory preferential voting and introducing the proportional representation system into undivided councils.
What would these proposals mean?
Public funding of election campaigns
- The Government is proposing the introduction of ratepayer funding of Queensland local government elections.
- Neither the Belcarra Report nor the Soorley Report, the two key products of inquiries into local government legislation and governance, make any recommendation in relation to this proposal.
- Under the Queensland Government’s proposal, candidates, groups of candidates and political parties that receive more than 4% of first preference votes would be entitled to $1.57 per first preference vote, up to the amount of their actual election expenditure.
- The proposal is that this be funded by councils by way of annual payment to ECQ, except for the 2020 local government elections.
- The background to the motions being discussed at the upcoming meeting of councils to discuss the changes includes the maximum cost burden for each council under this system.
Compulsory preferential voting (sometimes referred to as ‘CPV’)
- The Queensland Government has proposed a series of reforms to the Queensland local government electoral system, one of which is to introduce compulsory preferential voting (‘CPV’) for all council elections.
- CPV is different to Optional Preferential Voting, which prevails in most circumstances in Queensland local government elections.
- Under an ‘optional’ preferential voting system – you can number as many boxes as you like. In a ‘compulsory’ system, every box on the ballot paper must be numbered in order. If a voter fails to do that – then their vote is not valid.
- The State Government voting system is currently CPV.
- Optional preferential voting ensures the voter has as much control over their vote as they like.
- In councils without electoral divisions, the potential for confusion is significant, particularly when combined with the proposal to publicly fund election campaigns.
- The Soorley Report commissioned by the Queensland Government specifically recommended “That Queensland should retain the current optional preferential voting system for local government elections at least until after the next election” (Recommendation 21).
Proportional representation system in undivided councils
- Another of the Queensland Government proposed reforms to the Queensland local government electoral system is the introduction of proportional representation for councillors in undivided council areas.
- This represents a move from ‘first past the post’ in local government elections where councils are ‘undivided’ – meaning the local government areas vote for the council in their entirety, not in distinct wards.
- It is the same system used in the Australian Senate.
- Under the PR system, parties, groups and independent candidates are elected to the Parliament in proportion to the number of votes they receive.
- Neither the Belcarra Report nor the Soorley Report, the two key products of inquiries into local government legislation and governance, make any recommendation in relation to this proposal.
- When proportional representation was introduced into Victorian local government the informal vote doubled.
- The combination of CPV with proportional representation made it possible for Fraser Anning to park himself in the Senate on the strength of just 19 first preference votes.
What else is the Government proposing?
The proposed changes will form part of a Bill which is expected to be introduced into the Queensland Parliament during the week of 2 April.
You can read the proposals in full here.
What’s the LGAQ’s position on the broader package of reforms?
There are several changes in the proposed State legislation which councils and the LGAQ support that are aimed at making our local government system more open, transparent and accountable. For instance, changes to electoral finance records to ensure all election funding and expenditure go through a dedicated, public campaign account are supported by the LGAQ and councils.
Councils also support a proposed register of interest for all local government candidates, which will allow voters to know about any political affiliation or potential conflict of interest.
In fact, councils went beyond the first round of proposed legislative changes in a paper called ‘Beyond Belcarra’, which guides our strong commitment to demanding the highest system of integrity in all aspects of local government operations.
A summary of the proposed changes and the position of the LGAQ can be downloaded here. Please note these are subject to the General Meeting of the members in Brisbane on 2 April.
How are the councils of Queensland responding?
The proposals have prompted the LGAQ to call a General Meeting of councils for 2 April in Brisbane. The LGAQ Board and Policy Executive believe that several critical matters proposed, like changes to the voting arrangements for the 2020 council elections, require the full discussion and debate of the membership.
The motions up for debate at this meeting can be viewed here.