Plebiscites on council amalgamations return predictable results

Local Government Minister Warren Pitt says the first round results of community plebiscites on council amalgamations have not been surprising – with nearly half of eligible voters not casting a vote.

Mr Pitt said the plebiscite results were largely of incidental interest only, as they were not part of the reform process and would have no bearing on the amalgamations that were in train.

“Not surprisingly, those people opposed to amalgamations are only interested in portraying the results as an overwhelmingly No vote.

“What this conveniently ignores is that more people did not vote at all than those who voted against the amalgamations.

“Of the results to date, 48 per cent of eligible voters have not taken the opportunity to vote, with 39 per cent voting against the amalgamations.

“In Noosa Shire, the headquarters of anti-amalgamation sentiment, nearly one in three eligible voters did not cast a vote.

“Although we only have results from six councils in the south-east, the trend is quite clear.

“Predictably, most of those people who are voting are those opposed to amalgamation.

“More people, however, are not voting at all. That, too, is not surprising, given that voting in the plebiscites is voluntary, and many people obviously understand that the plebiscites have no status or standing in the reform process, and will not lead to anything happening.

“These plebiscites were facilitated by the former federal coalition government in an attempt to subvert the Queensland Government reforms.”

Mr Pitt said with the local council elections now only three months away, the focus of amalgamating councils was on the finalisation of their Transition Action Plans.

Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819