New Bundaberg council to be sworn in on Thursday

Four new councillors and a new mayor will be sitting at the Bundaberg council table for the first meeting after council is sworn in. With a six vote majority required, will new mayor Helen Blackburn have the support to implement her reform agenda?

With all divisions now declared, four new councillors and a new mayor will be sitting around the table for the first meeting after council is sworn in on Thursday.

After a long election campaign, and a slow ballot count roundly criticised by many including Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath, the successful candidates for the Bundaberg council election have now been declared by Electoral Commission Queensland.

Bundaberg Council announced the new council will be sworn in through a declaration of office for new council ceremony at the council chambers on Thursday, April 4.

Almost half of the new council will be fresh faces sitting around the council table, most notably the new mayor Helen Blackburn who unseated Jack Dempsey in a convincing affirmation of her “back to basics” campaign.

New mayor Helen Blackburn unseated Jack Dempsey in a campaign targeting the transparency and accountability perceived to be weaknesses of the previous council.

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In a significant boost to gender equality within council, three of the four new councillors are women, giving council a slim feminine majority of six out of 11 seats, including the mayor.

New Division 5 councillor Larine Statham-Blair will replace veteran Greg Barnes, while former Norville State School principal Gary Kirk unseated Vince Habermann as Division 7 councillor.

Newcomers Carmen McEneany and Deborah Keslake were successful in their bids for Divisions 3 and 6 respectively, replacing outgoing councillors Wayne Honor and Tanya McGloughlin who did not contest the election.

But the election may yet have a sting in its tail, with Division 8 candidate Shorne Sanders saying he had not yet conceded to Steve Cooper, who was declared the winner with the smallest possible margin, just one vote.

Dempsey adversary Greg Barnes was also ousted by a challenger, with the veteran councillor losing his 23-year hold on Division 5.

With Mr Cooper a staunch ally of Mr Dempsey as financial spokesperson in the previous council, the outcome of any challenge mounted by Mr Sanders would have significant implications for Ms Blackburn’s ability to implement her transparency and accountability agenda.

A majority of six, including herself and five councillors, is required in order to pass any resolution.

With the four new councillors an as-yet unknown quantity in council decision-making, the only sure thing is there are interesting times ahead.

Here is our breakdown of the 2024 Bundaberg Regional Council election:

Mayor - Helen Blackburn

In her second tilt at mayor, Helen Blackburn comprehensively defeated incumbent Jack Dempsey by a margin of nearly 17,000 votes with 86 per cent of the electorate counted.

Speaking in the final week of the campaign, Ms Blackburn made it clear her victory constituted a mandate for change.

This would begin with “opening the books” on council’s financial commitments including the Bundaberg Aquatic Centre, reviewing business units including Bundaberg Now to ensure they are within scope for local government, and winding back CEO Steve Johnston’s delegated powers.

Helen Blackburn was elected mayor of Bundaberg Regional Council.

While speaking cautiously after her election win was assured, she reaffirmed Bundaberg Now would be in her sights, saying “I don’t believe that Bundaberg Now has been performing activities that are related to the core business of council”.

Ms Blackburn’s ability to ring in the changes will require the support of at least five other councillors, with the loss of ardent transparency advocate Greg Barnes a significant blow.

Much will depend on the approaches taken by the four new councillors, and the willingness of moderate incumbents including Tracey McPhee, May Mitchell and John Learmonth to see a mandate in the 2024 election result.

Division 1 - Jason Bartels

Jason Bartels won a convincing victory over challenger Joe Zietsman, receiving 69 per cent of the votes with 87 per cent of the votes counted.

In a Facebook post Mr Bartels said he was “absolutely blown away” by the support which saw him returned for a third term on Bundaberg council on an increased margin.

“As a councillor, I find myself at times second guessing myself and wondering if I am doing what the communities want ... this has all been confirmed by the way you all cast your votes, with indications being made loudly clear that you believe in me and what I stand for and am trying to achieve for the Division and the region,” he said.

Jason Bartels was re-elected Division 1 councillor.

Mr Bartels was a devoted ally to outgoing mayor Jack Dempsey, most recently defending the controversial demolition of Anzac Pool by saying it “was never going to meet the criteria for heritage listing”, seemingly in contradiction to an email sent from the Queensland Heritage Officer informing council they had recommended the pool for heritage listing.

He flagged an unwillingness to make changes to council’s culture on the back of Ms Blackburn’s victory.

“Council is always a consensus of 11 opinions making informed decisions for the betterment of the region and I can’t see that this should change, and as always, I will fight for what is best for my Division and the region,” he said in a March 22 Facebook post.

Division 2 - William (Bill) Trevor

While challenger Paul Hudson ran a spirited campaign based on a platform of improved transparency and accountability, few would have been surprised with veteran Bill Trevor’s retention of Division 2, winning 60 per cent of the votes with 86 per cent of the votes counted.

Bill Trevor was re-elected Division 2 councillor.

Mr Trevor’s passionate support in September 2023 alongside LNP Member for Burnett Stephen Bennett for Woodgate residents threatened by longstand erosion issues would have provided some momentum leading into the campaign.

Mr Trevor could be an obstacle to Ms Blackburn’s plans to reintroduce the early rates payment discount, in December 2023 releasing a statement saying that the reinstatement of the discount would require council to increase rates by 10 per cent.

Division 3 - Deb Keslake

One of the new faces around the council table, Deb Keslake defeated Joseph Heininger for the Division 3 councillorship vacated by the retiring Wayne Honor, winning 59 per cent of the votes with 85 per cent of the votes counted.

Deb Keslake was elected Division 3 councillor.

Ms Keslake ran a low-profile social media campaign, but indicated she could be a supporter of Ms Blackburn’s reform agenda when responding to results of a NewsMail reader poll.

She said she would “fully support” finding a solutions to enhancing council transparency, reducing rates and reinstating the early rates payment discount.

Division 4 - Tracey McPhee

Tracey McPhee said she was “incredibly grateful and humbled” to be returned for her second term as Division 4 councillor, defeating challenger Ian Ward with 72 per cent of the votes with 80 per cent of the votes counted.

Tracey McPhee was re-elected Division 4 councillor.

An experienced businesswoman, Ms McPhee is known for voting on principle including casting the only dissenting vote against the abolition of the planning and development portfolio under Jack Dempsey that was criticised by Ms Blackburn during the campaign.

Division 5 - Larine Statham-Blair

Perhaps the biggest upset of the election after Ms Blackburn’s victory, Larine Statham-Blair ousted veteran Division 5 councillor and frequent adversary to Jack Dempsey, Greg Barnes, by receiving 57 per cent of the votes with 87 per cent of the votes counted.

Larine Statham-Blair was elected Division 6 councillor.

In her first Facebook post after Mr Barnes’ concession, Ms Statham-Blair described herself as “an independent, consultative, free-thinker who will vote on a case-by-case basis and hold regular public consultation sessions across (Division 5)”.

“I will never be afraid to speak up on the things that matter to ratepayers,” she said.

Nevertheless, an alignment with Division 8 councillor Steve Cooper was suggested by her inclusion of Mr Cooper among her supporters, “an experienced sounding board amongst the noise”, and Mr Cooper’s wife Diane being one of the electors appearing on Ms Statham-Blair’s candidate nomination form.

Division 6 - Carmen McEneany

Formerly known as “Thermie Carmie” for her work promoting Thermomix throughout the region, Carmen McEneany was declared Division 6 councillor after winning a closely fought battle with other new challengers Bradley Grogan and Andrea McPherson.

Carmen McEneany was elected Division 6 councillor.

Ms McEneany voiced agreement with Ms Blackburn’s ambitions to improve transparency and accountability in response to the NewsMail poll, saying “I would hope that the whole new council will have a culture and desire to be transparent on all matters”, and said she had an open mind on the reinstatement of the early rates payment discount.

Division 7 - Gary Kirk

Newcomer Gary Kirk ousted incumbent Division 7 councillor Vince Habermann, winning 53 per cent of the votes with 86 per cent of the votes counted.

Gary Kirk was elected Division 7 councillor.

Suggesting he will be a potential supporter for Ms Blackburn’s agenda, Mr Kirk flagged a commitment to transparency and accountability early in his campaign, saying they were issues raised frequently in his engagement with the public.

“One of the roles of a councillor is to ensure that accountability occurs in regards to the spending of public money…. and for the decisions they make on behalf of the community,” he said.

Division 8 - Steve Cooper

One of the most fascinating contests in the Bundaberg election, incumbent Steve Cooper was declared the winner after defeating challenger Shorne Sanders by the smallest possible margin.

After contacting ECQ to request a recount when trailing by eight votes, Mr Cooper rescinded his request after counting showed he had pulled ahead of Mr Sanders by one vote.

Despite congratulating Mr Cooper on retaining the seat, on Wednesday Mr Sanders said it was a “courtesy call” that did not constitute the concession, and he was currently preparing a challenge to the result.

“People have said I’ve conceded but that’s not right, I gave Steve a courtesy call but I haven’t conceded,” he said.

Mr Sanders did not provide any further details, saying only “watch this space”.

It is fair to say that as the holder of the previous council’s financial portfolio, Mr Cooper bore the brunt of voters’ backlash against council’s unwillingness to share the detailed financial reporting for the Bundaberg Aquatic Centre.

Steve Cooper was re-elected Division 8 councillor.

Fault lines between Mr Cooper and Ms Blackburn were most graphically represented when he said “we’re not going to give you a nuts and bolts” in response to Mr Barnes’ calls to provide detailed costings of the $76million project, adding such detailed reports were available only within the “confines” of council.

In her capacity as Bundaberg Regional Ratepayers Association president, Ms Blackburn disagreed with Mr Cooper.

“If they were abiding by the local government principles they would be providing every piece of information that they have, because it’s not their information, it’s rightly ours - the ratepayers,” she said at the time.

However, there are signs that the strong community sentiment against council has convinced Mr Cooper of the importance of transparency and accountability in retaining the trust of the public.

In response to the NewsMail reader poll, Mr Cooper gave a conditional commitment to improved transparency, saying “council transparency serves as the cornerstone of trust and accountability within our community”.

“While it remains imperative to uphold transparency, we must also acknowledge the delicate balance required, particularly concerning matters of commercial sensitivity,” he said.

“If re-elected, I’ll advocate for processes to ensure other ways of communicating outcomes, using accessible online platforms for tracking council decisions and expenditures.”

Division 9 - May Mitchell

Incumbent May Mitchell saw off a challenge by Mike Paul for Division 9 in style, winning with 69 per cent of the vote with 85 per cent of the votes counted.

When announcing her declared victory, Ms Mitchell said she “looks forward to working with the other successful candidates, both new and returned, for the good of our whole region”.

May Mitchell was re-elected Division 9 councillor.

Holder of the health, compliance and enforcement portfolio in the previous council, Ms Mitchell’s track record suggests she could thrive under a new mayor.

While she voted in support of the motion to abolish the planning and development portfolio, Ms Mitchell spoke at length about ratepayers’ expectations that “one of council’s most important roles” in providing a spokesperson for the public on planning and development matters would continue with the newly elected council.

Division 10 - John Learmonth

John Learmonth had a convincing victory over challengers Geoff Goodwin and Steven Clark, with his receipt of 62 per cent of the votes an impressive result in a three-horse race.

While his role as arts, culture and events portfolio holder left him relatively untouched by some of the controversial planning decisions that plagued the former council, he has hit back at some of the public criticism around the renovations to the Wintergarden building paid in part by the Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Grants program.

John Learmonth was re-elected Division 10 councillor.

“Whilst there has been much criticism over the work on the old building, it will be a great asset to the community,” he said in a recent Facebook post.

“Imagine the outcry if it had been demolished, but yet there has been outcries from some over the beautiful renovation.”

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It remains to be seen whether Mr Learmonth will read a mandate for change in Mr Dempsey’s ousting and supports Ms Blackburn’s reform agenda.