Funding contribution to assist with local government election costs
Published Thursday, 14 February, 2008 at 04:39 PM
Minister for Main Roads and Local Government
The Honourable Warren Pitt
The Queensland Government will contribute $1.2 million to councils throughout the state to support next month’s local government elections.
The funding will cover the establishment costs for the elections incurred by the Electoral Commission of Queensland, which is conducting the elections for the first time.
Local Government Minister Warren Pitt said the funding meant local governments and ratepayers would not be burdened with the one-off establishments costs.
“This funding will ensure the Electoral Commission can set up the necessary systems and processes to run fair and independent elections,” he said.
“Having the independent and impartial Electoral Commission involved in these elections will ensure accountability and transparency in the election process.
“This will be the first time the Electoral Commission has conducted local government elections on a statewide basis. With the exception of the Brisbane City Council, these elections were previously run by the individual councils themselves.
“In the past each local government absorbed the cost of the elections, with council staff acting as polling officials and running polling booths.
“Councils will still pay for these recurrent election expenses, but, where necessary, will be given up to three years to repay the costs involved.
“In total, these elections will cost approximately $15 million to run. While I acknowledge that this is a lot of money, I believe it will be money well spent.
“For the first time, Queensland will have a system of local government where the boundaries have been drawn by an independent body, where the remuneration for elected officials has been determined independently, and where the elections are independently run.
“At the core of the current local government changes in Queensland has been the independent basis of the reforms involved, and that will continue with the elections for the new councils,“ Mr Pitt said.
Mr Pitt said the Department of Local Government would work with councils to determine an appropriate repayment plan for the costs associated with their elections.
“I will write to all councils this week and outline the proposed payment process and estimated election costs,” he said.
Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819
The funding will cover the establishment costs for the elections incurred by the Electoral Commission of Queensland, which is conducting the elections for the first time.
Local Government Minister Warren Pitt said the funding meant local governments and ratepayers would not be burdened with the one-off establishments costs.
“This funding will ensure the Electoral Commission can set up the necessary systems and processes to run fair and independent elections,” he said.
“Having the independent and impartial Electoral Commission involved in these elections will ensure accountability and transparency in the election process.
“This will be the first time the Electoral Commission has conducted local government elections on a statewide basis. With the exception of the Brisbane City Council, these elections were previously run by the individual councils themselves.
“In the past each local government absorbed the cost of the elections, with council staff acting as polling officials and running polling booths.
“Councils will still pay for these recurrent election expenses, but, where necessary, will be given up to three years to repay the costs involved.
“In total, these elections will cost approximately $15 million to run. While I acknowledge that this is a lot of money, I believe it will be money well spent.
“For the first time, Queensland will have a system of local government where the boundaries have been drawn by an independent body, where the remuneration for elected officials has been determined independently, and where the elections are independently run.
“At the core of the current local government changes in Queensland has been the independent basis of the reforms involved, and that will continue with the elections for the new councils,“ Mr Pitt said.
Mr Pitt said the Department of Local Government would work with councils to determine an appropriate repayment plan for the costs associated with their elections.
“I will write to all councils this week and outline the proposed payment process and estimated election costs,” he said.
Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819