Toowoomba Region councillors to decide next mayor ahead of 2024 local government elections

In the wake of the bombshell announcement that Toowoomba mayor Paul Antonio will retire, find out how the Garden City’s next mayor will be decided. DETAILS HERE.

Toowoomba mayor Paul Antonio has announced he will retire on July 21, with a current councillor to become mayor before ratepayers go to the polls in 2024.

Mr Antonio made the emotional announcement that he would retire on Thursday, ending months of speculation over the future of his job.

After more than 40 years in local government, Mr Antonio will officially retire as of 12pm, Friday, July 21.

In the wake of the news, Toowoomba Regional Council CEO Brian Pidgeon said council would follow the requirements set out under the Local Government Act 2009 to determine the next mayor.

An emotional Mayor Paul Antonio announces at a Thursday morning press conference that he will step down from his role after 40 years.

Under the act, deputy mayor Geoff McDonald will become acting mayor as of 12.01pm, July 21.

At that time a special meeting of council will take place where councillors will vote on who becomes the new mayor until the local government election in March 2024.

“The agenda for that meeting will need to facilitate the appointment of the mayor and other council decisions that will depend on which councillor is appointed as mayor,” Mr Pidgeon said.

“If council appoints the deputy mayor as the new mayor, it will also need to set a date for a subsequent council meeting to appoint a new deputy mayor from the current councillors.

“If the deputy mayor is not appointed as mayor, there will be no need to appoint a new deputy mayor.”

Cr Geoff McDonald. Picture: Nev Madsen.

As Mr Antonio’s retirement comes within 12 months of the next general election, there will not be an election required to fill the vacant position.

The CEO must also follow LGA requirements to fill the vacant councillor position for the remainder of the term.

The deputy mayor position has been hotly contested during this term, with councillor Rebecca Vonhoff challenging Mr McDonald for the role in April 2022.

Ms Vonhoff narrowly lost a vote for the position at the initial session of council shortly after the 2020 election.

After claiming the popular vote in the previous election, Ms Vonhoff expressed an interest in the deptuy mayor job, however failed in her bid to overthrow Mr McDonald by a 7-4 vote.

Mr Antonio said he reached the decision to retire after consulting with his family, after previously stating the 2020 election would be his final term in office.

“It has been an honour to serve my community, firstly at Millmerran, then on the wider Toowoomba Regional Council since March 2008,” Mr Antonio said.

“Little could I have imagined progressing from my first term on the former Millmerran Shire in the early 1980s to a career in local government that has spanned almost 42 years.

“While there have been many changes over the years, my work has centred around my willingness to meet and deal with people across all sectors of our community.”