Queensland election results 2017: ALP candidate hits out at preferential voting

A LABOR candidate set to lose to the LNP has hit out against compulsory preferential voting, despite his own party introducing it.

A LABOR candidate set to lose to the LNP has hit out against compulsory preferential voting, despite his own party introducing it.

Burdekin candidate Mike Brunker also let fly against the Electoral Commission of Queensland, saying they needed to take a “long, hard look” at how they operate and questioned whether they could be trusted with the results.

Mr Brunker said both himself and defeated Labor MP Jim Pearce in Mirani would have won their respective seats if there was no compulsory preferential voting.

The Palaszczuk Government introduced compulsory preferential voting during their last term, in a surprise move while the Opposition was passing another bill.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk in Ayr with ALP candidate for Burdekin Mike Brunker. File picture

Mr Brunker said the voting system was “absurd” because he had won the most votes primary votes in the election.

“If it was first past the post like previous elections you’d have me and Jimmy Pearce sitting in the parliament right now,” he said.

“Instead, you’ve run your 100-yard sprint, you’ve got past the tape in front and the judge comes out and says to the person in third, ‘who do you want to win?’ – it’s absurd.”

Mr Brunker accused the ECQ head office in Brisbane of directing the local counters to delay the results.

“Brisbane say, ‘don’t count those’ and they don’t count them,” he said.

“They counted the wrong preferences in 23 seats on election night so how can you have faith in the electoral commission?”