Council roles in holding pattern
THE declaration of mayoral and councillor positions across the Far North is expected to take more than two weeks due to social distancing measures implemented for the counting process.
In the 10 days since Queenslanders went to the polls, only eight councillors in the entire Far North have been declared.
Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire has its councillors locked in, with Robert Bloomfield, Regan Kulka, Vanessa Tayley and Vincent Tayley running uncontested.
As for who will be declared mayor, Bradley Creek holds 52.03 per cent of the vote over Desmond Tayley (47.97 per cent).
Four councillors in Torres Strait Island Regional Council have also been declared – Elisala Torenzo, Lama Trinkoon, Kabay Tamu and Rocky Gabriel Stephen.
But the council’s remaining 11 divisions are yet to be finalised.
Phillemon Sereako Mosby is leading the mayoral race with 50.12 per cent of the vote.
An Electoral Commission of Queensland spokesman said, due to the impact of coronavirus, the counting of votes was expected to be lengthy.
He said the counting of votes continued with more positions expected to be declared this week.
“Local returning officers are continuing to work on official counts in which the preliminary results are checked and re-counted,” the spokesman said.
“The local government elections determine the outcome of the election of 578 mayors and councillors across Queensland’s 77 councils and involves the counting of over five million ballot papers throughout multiple stages of the counting process.
“As a result, the finalisation of results and declarations of elections for all councils generally takes more than two weeks from the election date.
“For these elections, this time frame may be extended due to the need to await the return of postal votes and the social distancing measures implemented for the counting process in the 2020 elections.”
The closing date for postal votes to arrive at the ECQ is today (April 7).
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ALICIA NALLY
THE Cairns community has come to the aid of about 50 international students stranded in the city without jobs.
TAFE Queensland international executive director Janelle Chapman said the organisation had set up a food drive and had been overwhelmed by the response.
“State-wide, TAFE Queensland trains more than 2400 international students and nearly all of them are facing financial hardship, but providing them with food is one worry we can take off their minds,” she said.
“For the last two weeks, TAFE Queensland staff have been sourcing non-perishable goods, and I am overwhelmed and so grateful for the response we have received.”
Ms Chapman said food included tinned products, fresh fruit and personal care items. The hospitality team had also been cooking meals for students.
Brazilian Diploma of Travel and Tourism Management student Juliana Junqueira Goncalves has lost her hospitality job and said she was thankful for the food bank and the generosity of donors.
“I think it is really amazing that people are thinking of us and putting themselves in our position,” she said.
“They know we don’t have family here and that most of us have lost our jobs, so the support has been really wonderful.”
POLICE have praised the efforts of two bystanders who raced to the aid of an elderly woman during an alleged attempted car jacking.
It is alleged a 31-year-old man attempted to hold up a Night Owl convenience store on Sheridan St about 8.30am on Saturday armed with a knife and metal pole.
Far North police Det Acting Insp Jason Smith (right) said he allegedly demanded cash and cigarettes and threw the pole at a staff member when his demand was refused.
Police have alleged the man then fled the store and approached a 72-year-old woman sitting in her car on nearby Charles St, threatened her with the knife and demanded her car.
Det Acting Insp Smith said the distressed woman blasted her car horn which alerted two people nearby who came to her aid.
The man allegedly smashed her rear window then fled.
“Luckily this 72-year-old lady was not injured and didn’t have any property stolen from her,” he said.
“We’re particular grateful for the two civilians who rendered assistance to the elderly lady.
“They’ve then been able to assist us by giving a full description of what he looked like and his direction of travel.
“This was a very distressing event to have occurred and she’s getting support from police and family.”
Police took the man into custody at 8.50am on Digger St. It will be alleged the man was still in possession of the knife.
Earlville man Michael James Noble, 31, appeared in the Cairns Magistrates Court yesterday charged with two counts of attempted robbery and one count of wilful damage.
He did not apply for bail and the case was adjourned until June 24.