‘Feral’ volunteers trigger new call for at polling booths

A former South East Queensland mayor has called for a major security overhaul including a cap on volunteer numbers at polling booths following “feral” behaviour across the state during the recent local government elections.

The Queensland Electoral Commission should implement security measures and cap volunteer numbers at polling booths following “feral” behaviour across the state during the recent local government elections, according to a former southeast Queensland mayor.

The ECQ has further been accused of ignoring reports of abusive behaviour at polling booths, raising doubts over its ability to hold aggressive volunteers accountable on election days.

Brisbane City Councillor for Coorparoo Fiona Cunningham this week detailed alarming allegations of abuse against Greens’ volunteers including accusations members calling children Nazis and “shoving” her.

Emails viewed by the Courier-Mail show several instances where candidates and councillors contacted the ECQ asking for safety concerns to be addressed both before and during the election due to fears escalating tensions would turn into physical violence.

The bitter Redlands election campaign was widely reported, particularly the heated rivalry between newly elected Mayor Jos Mitchell and opponent Andrew Laming.

Former Redland Mayor Karen Williams. Picture: Matthew Poon

Reports of volunteers slapping each other, voters being forced to walk through a gauntlet of campaigners, verbal fights, bullying and one incident where a volunteer allegedly pushed Mr Lemming’s mother to the ground from her chair, plagued Redlands’ early voting centres.

One ECQ staff member referred to the hostile environment as “like putting several rottweilers in a kids playpen and not expecting a dogfight”.

Emails alleged volunteers were approaching voters while they were still in their cars, leading them away from booths, pressuring them to use alternative entrances and blocking them from entering polling places.

Despite the repeated calls for help, ECQ officers said they had no intervention powers beyond six metres of polling booth doors.

Former Redlands mayor Karen Williams has joined calls for volunteer caps at polling stations, stating the ECQ has dismissed ongoing concerns regarding escalating security issues at booths.

She described the election behaviour as “feral” and called on the ECQ to implement security measures that prioritise voters safety and provide real consequences for intimidating and abusive acts.

“Having been involved in five elections, this one was bad,” she said.

“The system is broken and undermines the democratic process.

“The ECQ needs to make a call on bad behaviour otherwise it won’t stop.”

Election, vote, poll booth, Voters at Newtown State School. Council Election 2016, March 19,

An ECQ spokeswoman said the commission took appropriate action to address “undesirable behaviours” exhibited at polling places by candidates and campaign staff.

This included writing directly to candidates, deploying additional staff to Redlands early voting centres and engaging police when necessary.

However, the spokeswoman acknowledged the ECQ did not have the power to remove candidates or volunteers from polling booths and was forced to rely on police intervention.

“It is an offence to obstruct the free passage of electors,” she said.

“The ECQ has powers to manage breaches of the electoral legislation, actively takes compliance action as required, and will continue to do so based on its published compliance policy and approach.

“The ECQ does not have the power to ban candidates or their volunteers from being present at a polling booth, nor does the ECQ have the authority to physically intervene in taking action in relation to candidate volunteer behaviour.

“Only Queensland Police has the power to use force, and the ECQ worked closely with police to keep them apprised of the situation throughout the election period.”

Ms Williams said if the ECQ was relying on police to keep voters and candidates safe, it needed to turn its focus towards mitigation.

“If the ECQ won’t use (obstructing persons) legislation to discourage bad and sometimes violent behaviour, then they need to implement other limitations such as number of volunteers or do away altogether with How To Vote cards,” she said.

Queensland Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath confirmed volunteer behaviours at polling booths was not on the agenda as part of the upcoming review into the council election and said it was up to candidates to ensure their campaigners behaved correctly.

“Abusive and intimidating behaviour has no place in our society, and must not be tolerated when people are exercising their fundamental democratic rights,” she said.

“It is incumbent upon all candidates and parties to ensure their campaigners act appropriately.

“The Miles Government will always take on board feedback from election participants, however the capping of volunteer numbers, or restrictions to canvassing are not currently under active consideration.”