Postal votes are missing
FOUR days after Far Northern residents went to the polls, seats hang in the balance and missing postal votes are nowhere to be found.
The Douglas Shire Council could see new leadership as Mayor Julia Lui trails behind candidate Michael John Kerr.
As of 5pm yesterday, the gap between the contenders stood at nearly 10 per cent, with Mr Kerr holding just over 55 per cent of the counted ballots.
The Cairns CBD still hung in the balance yesterday as the gap between incumbent Councillor Richie Bates and candidate Amy Eden widened slightly.
Cr Bates currently holds 44.49 per cent of the vote while Ms Eden has accounted for 45.34 per cent.
Meanwhile, in the Cape,
Derek Walpo is still trailing third in the race for mayor in Aurukun.
The New Year’s Day riots and subsequent diaspora of residents from Aurukun has been considered a watershed moment for community trust in the council.
None of the sitting councillors have stood for re-election.
“No one here is surprised that the mayor for the last seven years is running last,” one Aurukun source said.
“It was a vote of no confidence in him.”
In the Gulf country, the top job is a close contest between acting mayor Jason Ned and former mayor Frederick Charles O’Keefe.
Mr O’Keefe last served as mayor in 2016.
His successor, Edric Walden, was suspended in 2018.
For voters waiting on tardy postal ballots to arrive, the situation had not clarified overnight.
“Failure of delivery of postal votes is a question for Australia Post,” an Electoral Commission of Queensland spokesman said.
However, Australia begged to differ.
“(THE ECQ) initiate and decide on the service type, tracking of votes and respond to customers and advise on missing votes,” an Australia Post spokesman said.
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