The Electoral Commission of Queensland (ECQ) is established under the Electoral Act 1992 as an independent statutory authority, responsible for the impartial conduct of Queensland elections .
ECQ’s key functions are:
- conducting state, local and industrial elections and referendums;
- reviewing state and local electoral boundaries; and
- regulating and promoting compliance with electoral funding and disclosure requirements.
ECQ performs its functions in accordance with responsibilities conferred by the following Acts:
Electoral conduct
Redistribution of electoral boundaries
In addition, the ECQ is subject to legislative requirements applying to Queensland public sector agencies, including access and disclosure of information under:
The ECQ’s purpose is to deliver accessible, fair, and transparent electoral services to all Queenslanders. Details about the ECQ’s vision and purpose are available in the Strategic plan 2023-2027 PDF (0.85 MB).
Strategic objectives
The ECQ contributes to the Queensland Government's objectives for the community, Unite and Recover, by Safeguarding our health, Supporting jobs and Backing our frontline services.
| Objective 1 | Trusted to deliver Queensland elections |
| Objective 2 | Increase electoral awareness and participation |
| Objective 3 | Maintain election readiness |
| Objective 4 | Promote and enforce compliance with electoral laws |
ECQ staff are subject to the requirements of the Queensland Public Service Code of Conduct, which sets out the ethics principles and values prescribed under the Public Sector Ethics Act 1994. ECQ also upholds the Queensland public service values:
| Customers first | Unleash potential | Ideas into action | Be courageous | Empower people |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Know your customer Deliver what matters Make decisions with empathy | Challenge the norm and suggest solutions Encourage and embrace new ideas Work across boundaries | Expect greatness Lead and set clear expectations Seek, provide and act on feedback | Own your actions, successes and mistakes Take calculated risks Act with transparency | Lead, empower and trust Play to everyone's strengths Develop yourself and those around you |
Pat Vidgen PSM
Pat Vidgen PSM was appointed Electoral Commissioner of Queensland on 7 September 2018. Pat brings to the role a wealth of senior public sector management experience spanning three decades. He has worked in diverse management roles in Queensland government departments and statutory bodies. His career has seen him operate as Deputy Director-General and Chief Operating Officer in the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, Deputy Chief Executive Officer in the Public Safety Business Agency and as a General Manager in the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation.
In those roles Pat has –
- provided constitutional advice and support to successive Premiers and Governors
- represented Queensland on a range of diverse national bodies for matters such as counter terrorism, Australian Honours and Bravery
- supported Queensland’s recovery following significant natural disasters including Cyclone Larry and the Queensland floods
- lead the delivery of numerous programs for the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games including government relations, the indigenous program including the reconciliation action plan, sustainability, the Queen’s Baton Relay and stakeholder and community engagement, and
- provided strategic advice on government boards such as the South Bank Corporation and the Queensland Events Corporation.
In 2016, Pat was recognised in the Australian Honours System with a Public Service Medal for outstanding service to the Queensland Government and to public sector governance. Pat studied Public Administration at the Queensland University of Technology and is a Fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia.
In October 2022, the Electoral Commission of Queensland (ECQ) was successful in attaining White Ribbon Australia’s Workplace Accreditation.
Committed to doing its part to prevent gendered violence against women, the ECQ promotes awareness campaigns, maintains a safe and inclusive work environment for its permanent and temporary staff, and facilitates a culture that empowers its people to speak up, seek help and receive meaningful support.
The White Ribbon Australia Workplace Accreditation Program is designed to help workplaces actively build sustainable and practical policies and procedures that enable employees to understand the issues of domestic and family violence, and to nurture and strengthen a culture of equality, respect and safety at all levels of the organisation.
Key activities undertaken by the ECQ towards gaining its White Ribbon Australia accreditation included:
- developing and improving policies, procedures, and support information
- positively modelling and influencing a culture of gender equality, respect, safety, and support
- actively promoting support channels for people using or experiencing violence
- incorporating domestic and family violence awareness training for all staff and management
- identifying and mitigating risks associated with workplace incidents, and
- encouraging the selection of suppliers who have adopted workplace policies and practices aimed at ending domestic and family violence where practical.
The ECQ is now focused on the ongoing commitments that aim to help Queensland build a future where women are safe from all forms of men’s violence and abuse and to ensuring the ECQ workplace is safe and inclusive for everyone.
