Coronavirus: Annastacia Palaszcuk flags postal vote for October state election

The Queensland government is contemplating holding its October 31 state election as a full postal ballot to protect voters’ health.

‘We have to have a state election this year, there are no ifs and buts about it’: Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk/ Picture: AAP

Just two weeks after insisting that Queensland’s local government elections go ahead despite the threat of coronavirus, the state government is now contemplating holding its own election as a full postal ballot.

Annastacia Palaszczuk reveal­ed on Friday that her Attorney-General, Yvette D’Ath, had spoken to the Electoral Commission of Queensland about the possibility of holding a full postal vote for the October 31 poll.

“We have to have a state election this year, there are no ifs and buts about it,” the Premier said in an interview with the ABC. “One of the measures we’ll probably be looking at is a full postal vote.”

Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington called for a move to the full postal ballot for the state poll three weeks ago, saying people should not be in fear of their health when they voted.

Ms Palaszcuk said the government would likely make a decision “in the next month or so” and it would depend on federal government modelling on the spread of coronavirus, which is expected in coming weeks.

“It depends where we are in terms of the curve,” Ms Palaszczuk said. She added that initial predictions suggested Queensland corona­virus cases would peak through July, August and September, which would raise serious ­issues for an October election.

“That would be problematic, being in a peak and asking people to go to a polling booth,” she said.

“I can’t give you a definitive ­answer at the moment until I see that modelling that is going to come for each state and territory.

“When I get that modelling, then I will be able to give you a ­definitive answer.”

ADDITIONAL REPORTING: AAP