Report on 2006 State election available

More than 2.2 million votes were cast at the State election on 9 September last year, according to report tabled in State Parliament today.

Attorney-General and Justice Minister Kerry Shine said the Electoral Commission of Queensland’s 2006 State General Election: Statistical Returns report found 2,247,728 votes were cast at the election.

The 2006 State election was the 52^nd general election of the Members of the Queensland Legislative Assembly.

The result of the election was the Australian Labor Party 59 seats, The Nationals 17 seats, the Liberal Party eight seats, One Nation one seat and independents four seats.

“There were 2.48 million people enrolled to vote at the time of the last election – 1.29 million being female electors and 1.19 million being male electors,” Mr Shine said.

“The turnout of the 2006 election was 90.47%, comparable with previous elections.”

The Electoral Commission undertook a comprehensive electoral information and awareness campaign, including a mail-out of information personally addressed and posted to each voter on the roll.

Votes were cast at 1687 static polling booths, 239 pre-poll centres and 570 declared institution mobile polling booths.

There were 8400 polling officials and three remote area mobile polling teams.

Mr Shine also told Parliament he was concerned about the disengagement of young Australians from our electoral processes.

“At the Standing Committee of Attorneys-General meeting in Canberra late last week, I sought and received support for a national summit aimed at increasing the civic involvement and voter enrolment of young Australians,” Mr Shine said.

“Importantly, a representative group of youth ambassadors from across the country would be invited to attend and participate in the summit.”

“It is estimated more than 300,000 young Australians eligible to be enrolled to vote do not appear on the electoral roll.”

“An effective democracy must encourage its citizens, of all ages, to be informed and engaged.”

A copy of the ECQ’s 2006 State General Election Statistical Returns will be available on ECQ website www.ecq.qld.gov.au.

18 April 2007
Media contact: Kirby Anderson (Mr Shine’s office) 3239 6400 or 0418 197 350
kirby.anderson@ministerial.qld.gov.au