Low candidate numbers for Logan, Ipswich, Moreton and Redland
Hefty pay packets and public service no longer seem to be so tempting for our wannabe pollies, at least at the local government level. No less than 12 council divisions will go uncontested at the March 16 poll and one mayor is in a one-horse race.
Redlands Coast
Don't miss out on the headlines from Redlands Coast. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Interest in providing a civic service may be on the wane in southeast Queensland with 12 divisions at next month’s local government election going uncontested and one mayor set to be reinstated without contest.
The incumbents in a dozen Ipswich, Logan, Moreton Bay and Redland divisions will be unopposed at the March 16 local government polls.
Mayor of Moreton Bay, Peter Flannery, also was faced no opponent.
And residents in five Moreton Bay divisions will not have to vote as their sitting councillor also has no opponent.
Political analysts from Griffith University, Emeritus Professor Ross Fitzgerald and Associate Professor Paul Williams, said the number of candidates for next month’s local elections were lower than expected.
Prof Fitzgerald said the lack of candidates showed Queensland voters were “fed up” with local government and the duplication of many public services.
“I believe there are so many uncontested seats because people are fed up with local government and the three-tiered system,” he said.
“I think this is a trend that will eventually gather momentum, so that one day there will just be a federal government and an amalgam of state and local governments.
“That will wipe out a whole lot of elected local government positions, which people see as unnecessary.
“I believe this lack of candidate numbers is a step towards abolishing local governments altogether – it’s amazing that a local mayor (in Moreton) was reinstated without contest.”
Prof Fitzgerald said it would only be a matter of time before the positions of mayors would be abolished and a state regime put in place.
However, Griffith University political expert Associate Professor Paul Williams disagreed and said the low numbers of candidates and the high rate of uncontested seats was all part of the political cycle.
“Superficially, it does look like local government is on the wane, but it is temporary because it is likely linked to economic malaise and people at this point in time are inward looking because of the cost-of-living crisis,” Prof Williams said.
“Moreton Bay Council is a relatively new city and political entity.
“The local constituency is still looking for its own identity and there would be a lot of new, unenrolled new voters in that area.
“Moreton does not have the same sense of community as Ipswich and Logan, where there are more mayoral candidates.
“The cost of living is biting and people are inward looking at the moment and too busy paying their rent or mortgage to help outside of their own economic sphere.
“But I do not believe that local government is on the way out – it may be that many people tend to think of local government as non-political and therefore less important.”
SOUTHEAST QLD MARCH 2024 LOCAL GOVERNMENT CANDIDATES
MORETON
Mayor: Peter Flannery (Incumbent elected unopposed)
DIVISION 1
Brooke Savige (Incumbent elected unopposed)
DIVISION 2
DIVISION 3
DIVISION 4
DIVISION 5
DIVISION 6
DIVISION 7
DIVISION 8
DIVISION 9
DIVISION 10
DIVISION 11
DIVISION 12
IPSWICH
DIVISION 1
DIVISION 2
DIVISION 3
DIVISION 4
REDLAND
MAYOR
DIVISION 1
DIVISION 2
DIVISION 3
DIVISION 4
DIVISION 5
DIVISION 6
DIVISION 7
DIVISION 8
DIVISION 9
DIVISION 10
LOGAN
Mayoral candidates in order of the ballot draw are: James Reid; Brett Raguse and Jon Raven.
DIVISION 1
Lisa Bradley (Incumbent)
Alex Fisher
Peta Duffy
DIVISION 2
Teresa Lane (Incumbent)
Reese Preston-Smith
Jacinta Parer
DIVISION 3
Mindy Russell (Incumbent)
Kahill Evans
DIVISION 4
Joshua Lucey
Lucy Reilly
Nathan St Ledger
DIVISION 5
Sovannary Uk
Paul Jackson
Zoe McDonnell
DIVISION 6
Tony Hall (Incumbent returned unopposed)
DIVISION 7
Tim Frazer (Incumbent)
Anthony Shorten
DIVISION 8
Jacob Heremaia (Incumbent, returned unopposed)
DIVISION 9
Scott Bannan (Incumbent returned unopposed)
DIVISION 10
Miriam Stemp (Returned unopposed)
DIVISION 11
Natalie Willcocks (Returned unopposed)
DIVISION 12
Karen Murphy (Incumbent)
Nate Hamon