A survey by the Local Government Association of Queensland of the conduct of the 2012 Queensland local government elections has found that the Electoral Commission of Queensland failed to perform adequately in regard to key aspects of the poll.

 

The survey of both councils and Queensland voters found that the ECQ put in a poor effort in promoting the elections, supplying information to candidates and instructing voters on how to lodge postal votes.

 

The survey results confirm that the 2012 council elections were marred by voter confusion and poor communication on the part of the ECQ.

 

The survey results form part of a detailed submission the Local Government Association of Queensland has delivered to the Newman Government on the conduct of the 28 April local poll.

 

LGAQ President Paul Bell said the submission called on Local Government Minister David Crisafulli to give councils the power to conduct their elections themselves or appoint outside contractors to provide election services.

 

“We said immediately after the poll that the ECQ had not risen adequately to the task of conducting the elections and this survey roundly endorses that view,’’ Cr Bell said.

 

“Resourcing was poor, voter education at the local level failed to cut through and there was a lack of properly skilled returning officers on the ground.’’

 

“All of this shows that taking local circumstances into account when conducting local elections is all important, and that is why councils are best placed to decide how their elections should be run.’’

 

The commission’s performance in promoting the requirement to vote, method of voting and election details was very poorly regarded by survey respondents.

 

Most of those surveyed also said public notices about the election and calls for nominations fell below acceptable standards.

 

A copy of the LGAQ submission including the survey results can be accessed at www.lgaq.asn.au