Toowoomba Regional Council to consider electoral divisions as councillors endorse exploring proposal

In a move that could change how people vote for councillors, a proposal to divide the Toowoomba region into wards has received significant support. VOTE IN OUR POLL.

The Toowoomba Regional Council is considering electoral divisions following a proposal by councillor Kerry Shine.

Toowoomba Regional Council could be divided into geographic wards in the future, after the majority of councillors endorsed exploring the proposal for the 2028 election.

Eight of the 11 elected officials voted at February’s ordinary meeting to support councillor Kerry Shine’s request for a report over moving the region to a divided format, in the vein of the South Burnett or Ipswich.

It marks the most significant progress on the issue in years, with council divisions having been explored in the past with little movement.

It would also be the largest upheaval in the region’s local politics since the creation of the council in 2008, which involved the amalgamation of eight smaller local governments into one.

Council CEO Brian Pidgeon will now create a report to consider and weigh up all options, due by October.

If this is endorsed, the council will then present a proposal to Deputy Premier Steven Miles for him to ask the Local Government Change Commission to conduct an electoral arrangement review of the region.

Mr Shine’s proposal hinged on the declining number of councillors being elected from rural areas, pointing to the results of the 2020 election.

“All four of the newly-elected councillors reside in Toowoomba, so it is logical to conclude in the next five to 10 years the TRC could consist entirely of councillors from Toowoomba,” he said. 

“In my view, the only way to guarantee there would be representation outside the city is to adopt the proposal I’ve outlined.”

Mr Shine suggested the council could feature five divisions holding two councillors each, with four being based in the urban area and a fifth for the rural surrounds.

He also noted how half of the councillors currently lived in one wealthy suburb.

Kerry Shine. Photo Bev Lacey

“It’s almost impossible for any country candidate to succeed right now,” Mr Shine said.

“The main reason for the amalgamation (in 2008) was to achieve financial sustainability, particularly for those councils that were in dire straits — it wasn’t to eliminate fair representation.

“At the moment, we have an odd situation where half of the councillors come from a very small area of the region, that is East Toowoomba.

“It’s no reflection on the councillors, they’re passionate and work hard to get out and about in the region, but they all do come from that small area.

“I don’t think it passes the pub test.”

Councillor Nancy Sommerfield seconded the motion, noting wards could be based around the current state electorates within the Toowoomba region to achieve equal population distributions.

Mayor Paul Antonio and councillors Carol Taylor and Bill Cahill were the only opponents to the proposal, with the latter warning a divided council would lead to more backroom caucusing and worse representation.

“It potentially promotes discussion outside the boardroom about who might get together on different topics,” Mr Cahill said.

“I was a councillor that worked under this system, and don’t think it wouldn’t happen here.

“As someone who has worked in a ward system, there was less priority for voters in another ward and that’s simply how it worked.

“I say let’s keep politicking out of the boardroom and let’s be all in the boat together, regardless of where the electors are.”

But councillor Megan O’Hara Sullivan supported the proposal, arguing it gave people with less money and name recognition a shot at being elected.