2024 Qld council elections: What early voters said

Queenslanders flocked to polling booths on the first day of early voting in the local council elections. Here’s what they said influenced their votes.

A mixed bag of election issues including e-scooters, housing, transport and floods were at the forefront of Brisbane voters’ minds as early voting began in Queensland’s 2024 local government elections on Monday.

Residents who flocked to early voting polls in Brisbane during their lunch hour revealed a variety of concerns that influenced their vote, however, the election race appeared balanced with equal favouritism towards the LNP, Labor and Greens.

Early voting will be open for the next two weeks at select locations, excluding weekends, ahead of election day on Saturday, March 16.

While some voters voiced their dissatisfaction with the current LNP-led council headed by Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner, others expressed gratitude to a “job well done”.

Labor’s lord mayoral candidate Tracey Price at early voting for the Brisbane City Council Election at City Hall on Monday. Picture: Richard Walker

Brisbane resident Todd said he specifically voted against the Labor Party because they no longer took the environment seriously, while

Chris Airey said he was confident in Labor’s Tracey Price.

“I believe Labor has the best policies, especially with cost of living because a lot of people are hurting out there,” he said.

Chris Airey was voting early for the Brisbane City Council election at City Hall on Monday. Picture: Richard Walker

Nicholas said he was “sick of” the two-party system, which pushed him to vote for Jonathan Sriranganathan and the Greens in the hope they would improve housing, rent prices and flood resilience.

Another man who asked to remain anonymous said he was “sick of Schrinner” due to lack of maintenance at his local park.

“He’s been in power too long,” he said

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner, on first day of voting in council elections, at Care Kits for Kids, Camp Hill, on Monday. Picture: Steve Pohlner

Marion said she would “particularly like to get rid of those e-scooters” because she was “sure as heck going to get knocked over”, while Sarah said she was extremely happy with the LNP council, her vote driven by youth crime and transport policy.

One resident admitted he cast a donkey vote and another who wished to remain anonymous said his parents influenced his voting decisions.

“My mum has always voted for Liberals, I’ve just done that. She works for a big oil company,” he said.

Greens Lord Mayoral candidate Jonathan Sriranganathan at early voting for the Brisbane City Council election at City Hall on Monday. Picture: Richard Walker

Brisbane resident Miles wouldn’t reveal which party he voted for but said he loosely followed politics and conducted research before heading to the polls to vote for the party with the best stance.

Asked whether he was confident that party would win, he said “no”.

Voting is mandatory in the 2024 council elections, with some residents also required to cast their vote in the Inala and Ipswich West state by-elections.

Originally published as 2024 Qld council elections: What early voters said