THE AWFUL BOOTH
Calls grow to postpone election but Premier holds firm on casting vote
THE State Government is playing Russian roulette with Gold Coast lives and risking the city’s reputation by holding the council election this weekend, say medical leaders and tourism bosses.
One of the nation’s top doctors, Deputy Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly, said the poll had the potential to be a “major mixing event”, while the Tourism Australia chair said “we must lead by example”. “Why is this not obvious to others?”
But Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk insisted Saturday’s election would go ahead, based on “very clear” medical advice.
TOURISM and medical leaders say State Government is playing Russian roulette with Gold Coast lives and risking its reputation by holding the council elections this weekend.
Top doctor, Deputy Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly, said elections had the potential to be a “major mixing event”.
Another said it would cost lives, while Tourism Australia’s chair said “we must lead by example”. “Why is this not obvious to others?”
But Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said proceeding with Saturday’s poll was based on “clear” advice of Chief Medical Officer Jeanette Young, despite increased restrictions introduced by the National Cabinet and the closure of the state’s borders.
“Dr Young has said it is OK for the elections to proceed. People voting need to bring their own pen or pencil and practice social distancing,” she said. “The health advice is very clear. As long as you practice social distancing there is a very low risk. The majority have already voted.”
Voters still face a $133 fine if they don’t vote.
Gold Coast Medical Association boss Dr Philip Morris said it should be postponed until the pandemic was over: “Running the election this weekend will worsen the virus epidemic on the Coast and cost us lives. I strongly advise all electors to stay away from polling booths.
“We are a hot spot. There is community transmission here, therefore schools should be closed and nobody should attend a polling booth.”
It comes as Coast cases rose eight to 87, with 443 statewide. All up, 38,860 tests have been done in the state with contact tracing now for 46 new cases.
Tourism Australia chair Bob East said: “Our city relies heavily on the visitor economy. Our reputation as a clean, safe and communityminded city is at risk here.
“As a city we must lead by example. Our tourism, hospitality and accommodation providers are suffering. But they are all united in their efforts to be first back into the market with a co-ordinated marketing and promotional campaign when the time is right. To protect our industry and thousands of jobs at risk we must do everything to avoid the worst of this hideous virus.
“We must protect our community from further spread of the virus. We must not harm our reputation as a thoughtful and progressive city. We must postpone the council elections.
“Why is this not obvious to others?”
Griffith University political analyst Paul Williams said it was too late for the State Government to delay the election.
“Up to half the state has already voted,’’ Dr Williams said.
But he said the Palaszczuk Government could have postponed it in late February.
Bond University adjunct professor Stephen Holden said images of crowds of voters at polling booths would be bad optics for Queensland as many other developed nations had gone into total lockdown to slow the spread of COVID-19.
“It is odd we have closed the borders and have the Government telling us to stay apart, yet they still want people to vote on Saturday,” he said.
“It’s not a great look but I understand the problem. The Government is stuck between a rock and a very hard place.”
Other fans of postponing the elections are Superfish swim school owner and exOlympian Andrew Baildon and Simon Bennett, managing partner of OMB Solicitors.
A spokesman for the Premier said measures would limit the numbers in polling booths and allow social distancing.
“The Premier has said she needs mayors and councillors in place to deal with the growing emergency.”
“Mayors run local disaster management groups who report directly into the Queensland Disaster Management Committee. We need those systems. Delaying the election pushes the settlement of those local management committees further into the unknown.”
Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate backed Ms Palaszczuk, saying it was critical councils be freed of caretaker provisions to make decisions.
“In terms of reputational damage, there would be more if the election was cancelled.”
RUNNING THE ELECTION THIS WEEKEND WILL WORSEN THE VIRUS EPIDEMIC ON THE GOLD COAST AND COST US LIVES DR PHILIP MORRIS