Mayors and councillors from across Queensland gathered in Brisbane this week for a special meeting of the membership of the LGAQ, in response to the Queensland State Government's proposed electoral reforms.
The proposed reforms include, the public funding of election campaigns, compulsory preferential voting and introducing the proportional representation system into undivided councils.
It follows the Government’s decision on the eve of the meeting to wind back some of its original proposals or defer their introduction until the 2024 local government elections. Despite the changes, compulsory preferential voting remains a point of contention.
“We are pleased the Government has shifted its position on some of the issues it was proposing.” said LGAQ CEO Greg Hallam.
“Compulsory preferential voting will only apply to elections for all mayors and for councillors in divided councils, while proportional representation will not be a feature of next year’s poll.”
“The Government has also agreed that plans for campaign spending caps and public funding of election campaigns need further consultation.”
“The proposal to dual candidacy for the positions of mayor and councillor has been dropped.”
Despite the changes the meeting still went ahead to debate the forced introduction of compulsory preferential voting in all mayoral elections next year.