Late election shake-up

100,000 still to vote in city’s most bizarre ballot

VOTERS will today go to the polls for the most unusual election day in the city’s history.

Despite the impact of the coronavirus pandemic and the largest pre-poll turnout, at least 100,000 people will cast their votes in the local government elections.

The Electoral Commission of Queensland (ECQ) says more than half of voters across the state pre-polled as a result of the health crisis which will see a myriad of other changes.

Changes brought into effect on the eve of the poll include:

Candidates being blocked from canvassing for votes at polling booths

Advertising signage being banned from being within 100m of the booths, with both candidates and volunteers urged to stay away, similar to that of New Zealand.

No candidate will be holding traditional post-election parties where, in past years, victory or concession speeches are made.

One political insider told the Bulletin the changes, part of several social distancing measures put into effect to slow the spread of the virus, would create a last-minute shake-up to the election.

“This totally blows up the races for places like Division 6 in Southport and Division 10 in Surfers Paradise because it means no candidate can target the seven per cent of voters who make up their minds as they walk into the polling booth,” the experienced campaign operative said.

“With no incumbent running in those seats, seven per cent can make or break a candidate so this will change the race in a big way.”

With the retirement of long-serving councillors Gary Baildon, Dawn Crichlow and Paul Taylor and the creation of a new Division 1 in the Gold Coast’s far north, today’s election will deliver at least four new councillors to city hall.

There are expected to be several close races, particularly in Division 4, where incumbent councillors Cameron Caldwell and Kristyn Boulton are facing off against each other.

The most high-profile race is of course the mayoralty, where incumbent Tom Tate will face seven opponents, including “working class mayor” Brett Lambert and health food writer Mona Hecke.

Cr Tate, who is considered a firm favourite for re-election to a third term by political strategists, yesterday admitted his focus in recent days had been less on campaigning and more directed to salvaging the city’s economy in the face of COVID-19 and the health of his wife Ruth.

“To be honest with you I haven’t been focusing so much on the election but on how Ruth is doing with her health and second, how the community is focusing on COVID-19,” he said yesterday.

“The election comes in a distant third.

“Everyone knows what I am like and what I do, not everyone agrees with it but we just get on with the work.”

Polls open at 8am and close at 6pm.