Matthew Tickner, Rob Pyne elected to council as MP slams slow Cairns mayor count

The final two Cairns councillors have been declared but that’s done little to placate a local MP who says delayed news on the next mayor is “completely unacceptable”.

Cairns MP Michael Healy has fired shots at the Electoral Commission of Queensland for not yet declaring the result of the Cairns mayor election. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Glenn Campbell

Cairns MP Michael Healy has teed off at the Electoral Commission of Queensland for its “completely unacceptable” slow count, which he says has undermined public confidence in the process.

The final two Cairns councillors have been announced but that’s done little to placate Mr Healy.

Rob Pyne’s successful flip from Division 2 to Division 5 was confirmed on Tuesday while Matthew Tickner’s takeover of the southside seat was also announced.

They become the eight and ninth councillors elected to Cairns Regional Council after Trevor Tim’s victory in Division 4 was made certain on the weekend.

However the next council cannot be sworn in until the Electoral Commission of Queensland declares which mayoral candidate came out on top.

Independent Division 2 candidate Matthew Tickner has been elected to Cairns Regional Council, becoming one of three newcomers to the representative team. Picture: Brendan Radke

More than 75 per cent of the enrolled voter ballots have been counted and Amy Eden has maintained a clear lead over the incumbent Terry James and challenger Paul Taylor in the sixteen days since polls closed.

It’s unlikely there are many more votes left to be counted with the turnout and percentage of votes counted this year already higher than the 2020 mayoral election.

Cairns MP Michael Healy said the wait was “completely unacceptable” and undermined public confidence in the electoral process.

“This has left council in an extended caretaker period and has caused unnecessary delays to decision making about the future of our city,” he said.

Former Division 2 councillor Rob Pyne has been re-elected as the Division 5 councillor. Picture: Stewart McLean

“The new council is still yet to be sworn in and this could drag on for at least another week.”

The local MP and Tourism and Sport Minister said he had raised his concerns with Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath.

“I’m not bringing into question any of the results, only the efficiencies and the organisation of the ballot process,” he said.

“While frontline booth workers did their best and I commend their efforts, clearly the organisation and resources were sadly lacking in some areas.

“The Queensland Electoral Commission is an independent group, at arm’s length from the government. But I can say that I and others were not happy with the way they conducted themselves.”

Mr Healy said reports of delays and polling booths running out of ballot papers was particularly disturbing ahead of the state election in October.

The ECQ has been criticised by candidates, community members and the local MP for a number of issues including running out of ballot papers at multiple polling booths. Picture: Brendan Radke

“It undermines the confidence that community has in the democratic processes,” he said.

“You want all eligible voters to be turning up confident their votes will be polled and quickly counted.

“People need to feel confident that when they turn up, they can vote, that it’s done efficiently, and it’s done effectively.

“And it needs to be done far, far better than it was in the latest council elections.”

An ECQ spokeswoman said declarations could not be made until there was “absolute certainty” on results.

“A comprehensive evaluation of election planning and delivery is always part of the ECQ’s approach for election events and has already been scheduled with an external evaluation partner leading that process,” she said.

A week after the election, the state government revealed the scope of that evaluation would expand to include issues such as queuing and ballot paper shortages.

The review is due by the mid-year.

Next to Mr Tickner, other newcomers to council include Anna Middleton and Trevor Tim who have been elected to divisions 7 and 4 respectively.

Unity candidates Rhonda Coghlan and Kristy Vallely were re-elected as well as their team colleague Brett Moller, who’s position was uncontested.

Brett Olds and Cathy Zeiger, both independents, were also re-elected.

Originally published as Matthew Tickner, Rob Pyne elected to council as MP slams slow Cairns mayor count