Positive start to council elections

ALMOST 53,000 Tasmanians have already cast their vote in the local government elections, with North-West councils leading the way.

This week, Australia Post delivered more than 350,000 ballot packs across the state, with 52,946 votes returned.

Smaller councils led the way, with 29 per cent of the 825 Flinders residents already having their say.

Clarence City had the highest number of votes returned, with 5784 residents employing their democratic rights.

Launceston had the lowest percentage return of the week with only 5408 votes returned.

Tasmania Electoral Commissioner Andrew Hawkey said the northern council’s tally was down because of Launceston Show Day on Thursday.

“We expect a bigger delivery on Monday,” he said.

Mr Hawkey said the number of postal votes returned in the first week was encouraging but asked voters not to be complacent. “With the weekend coming up it’s an ideal time to consider your candidates and put it back in the mail,” he said.

Of southern Tasmanian councils, Glamorgan Spring Bay had a 23 per cent return rate, perhaps because of the high level of interest in the Cambria Green project.

Of the 37,906 eligible voters in Hobart, only 5073 voters have cast their ballot while 3772 Kingborough voters have.

If you haven’t received your ballot by Monday, visit your council office or call the TEC (1800 801 701) and ask for a replacement pack. CHINESE-Australians living in Hobart have joined to denounce a Hobart City Council candidate with alleged links to the Chinese Communist Party.

Ten people from Hobart’s Chinese community have signed a letter distancing themselves from Yongbei Tang as the former Multicultural Council of Tasmania treasurer fights to become an alderman.

The signatories — who wished to remain anonymous — shared with the Mercury their love for Australian culture and values.

“Recently there has been negative news about Chinese and as a result our community is now experiencing forms of racism,” the letter said.

“Several of us have [experienced] slurs such as ‘ why do you Chinese endorse a candidate related to the Communist party’.

“Four years ago, there were two candidates from the Chinese community standing for aldermen of Hobart City Council.

“No people criticised or questioned them or their loyalty to our Australia, or any hidden agenda with the Communist party, because they never had anything to hide.