2024 local government engagement

On 9 March 2023, the Electoral Commission of Queensland’s (ECQ) Local Government Election Advisory Committee (the Committee) held its first meeting. The ECQ established the Committee to provide a local government perspective on the planning and preparation for the 2024 local government quadrennial elections. The Committee is comprised of ECQ representatives and external members from the local government sector.

The members are:

• Pat Vidgen PSM, Electoral Commissioner (Chair), ECQ
• Wade Lewis, Assistant Electoral Commissioner, ECQ
• Jae Lancaster, Deputy Director-General, Local Government Division, Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning
• Peta Irvine, Chief Executive Officer, Local Government Managers Australia (Andrew Chesterman, Chief Executive Officer, Redland City Council attended the first meeting as a proxy)
• Chatur Zala, Chief Executive Officer, Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council
• Glen Beckett, Head of Assist, Acting Head of Advocacy, Local Government Association of Queensland
• Victoria Nelson, Coordinator Councillor Governance, Sunshine Coast Council, and
• Kevin Yearbury PSM, independent member.

Committee members all have broad experience across the local government sector in various capacities. Their diverse viewpoints will support the ECQ to provide better electoral services to local governments across Queensland.

The first meeting of the Committee was an opportunity for the Electoral Commissioner and other ECQ representatives to highlight the approach the ECQ is taking to deepen its engagement with the local government sector and individual councils as well as increase transparency of the electoral process.

Members were presented information on various topics including the election resourcing model and drivers of election-related costs, recruitment of Returning Officers, election service design, and First Nations engagement.

Members provided constructive feedback on various aspects of the election planning process, which the ECQ will consider in its election planning and preparations. They also identified areas of interest for discussion at future meetings, including implementation of the new expenditure cap legislation and the different roles of the ECQ and council chief executive officers during the conduct of the elections.

The next meeting of the Committee is proposed for early July 2023.

On 5 July 2023, the Electoral Commission of Queensland’s (ECQ) Local Government Election Advisory Committee (the Committee) held its second meeting.

The ECQ established the Committee to provide local government perspectives on the planning and preparation for the 2024 local government quadrennial elections. The meetings are also an opportunity for the ECQ to provide greater transparency to the local government sector into the electoral process and the ECQ’s associated activities to deliver accessible, fair and transparent local government elections.

The meeting agenda was extensive, and members were presented information on various topics including:

• the recruitment, training and allocation of Returning Officers and Assistant Returning Officers
• the ECQ’s Compliance Approach for the 2024 local government elections, without reference to specific compliance matters or methodologies
• implementation of local government electoral expenditure caps
• the review of the mandatory councillor training by the Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning
• an overview of the cost estimates provided to each local government for delivery of the 2024 elections for their council
• an update on planning activities for the 2024 local government elections
• the process for assessing and providing recommendations to the Deputy Premier on applications for full postal elections
• the completion of the inaugural ECQ First Nations Engagement Strategy, and
• the ECQ submission to the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts’ Postal Services Modernisation discussion paper.

Committee members had particular interest in understanding the process for recruiting, training and allocating Returning Officers and Assistant Returning Officers. They highlighted to the ECQ the importance of the capability of these officers and their relationships with the relevant local government.

The Committee also discussed best practice in providing information to candidates, political parties and third parties on their obligations. This applied to the compliance approach, local government electoral expenditure caps and the mandatory candidate training where there is a balance between providing information that is engaging and supports electoral participation while effectively communicating the importance of meeting various obligations.

The next meeting of the Committee is proposed for October 2023.

The third meeting of the Electoral Commission of Queensland’s (ECQ) Local Government Election Advisory Committee (the Committee) was held on 5 October 2023.

Members were presented information on various topics including:

• the procurement and deployment of field technology, including an update on cyber security measures being implemented in preparation for the 2024 local government elections
• the communication and engagement program of work to support voter education and awareness of the elections
• the ECQ’s strategies for managing election delivery and counting of votes in close seats
• an update on the recruitment, training and allocation of Returning Officers and Assistant Returning Officers
• an overview of the centralised support and communication model being established to provide advice and support to Returning Officers and other front line staff during elections
• an update on estimated costs for the 2024 local government elections, including the potential impacts of recently announced increases to postage costs and increasing short-term accommodation costs, and
• an overview of the ECQ’s election evaluation project which will commence after the 2024 local government elections.

Members also noted progress in implementation of local government expenditure caps, preparations for the Local Government Association of Queensland’s annual conference in which several Committee members would be participating, and rates of completion of the ‘So you want to be a councillor’ training delivered by the Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning.

Members expressed an interest in further information about the operation of the election results website and processes relating to vote counting and declarations at the next Committee meeting.

The next meeting of the Committee is proposed for December 2023.

The fourth meeting of the Electoral Commission of Queensland’s (ECQ) Local Government Election Advisory Committee (the Committee) was held on 13 December 2023. This was the Committee’s final meeting before the commencement of the 2024 local government elections.

Members were presented information on various topics including:

• the ECQ’s vote counting, declaration and results publication processes for the 2024 local government elections
• an overview of the results website including the intensive load, penetration and security testing undertaken in preparation for the elections
• the election communication and advertising strategy, including the ECQ’s advertising and disinformation mitigation campaigns
• an update on estimated costs for the 2024 local government elections, including the expenditure that has been incurred at the time of the meeting
• a departmental update on the ‘So you want to be a councillor’ training and current levels of training completion
• a presentation from the Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC) on its local government election activities
• an overview of electoral donations and expenditure disclosures at the time of the meeting
• an update on the recruitment of Returning Officers and temporary election staff, and
• a draft of the 2024 Local Government Elections Service Plan which was provided to members in advance of the publication of the final plan prior to the end of the year.

Members acknowledged the value of the committee and its usefulness in providing a platform for increased engagement and collaboration between local government and the ECQ.

The next meeting of the Committee is proposed to be held after the elections in April or May, as part of the post-election evaluation process.

• The Countdown - Edition 1 PDF (5.11 MB)

• The Countdown - Edition 2 PDF (9.34 MB)

• The Countdown - Edition 3 PDF (1.27 MB)

• The Countdown - Edition 4 PDF (2.02 MB)

• The Countdown - Edition 5 PDF (6.45 MB)

• The Countdown - Edition 6 PDF (1.37 MB)

• The Countdown - Edition 7 PDF (1.75 MB)

• The Countdown - Edition 8 PDF (3.12 MB)