Free read: The ultimate South Burnett Regional Council election guide
Welcome to your ultimate guide to the 2024 local government elections in the South Burnett, the candidates, where to vote, how to vote and early voting information.
South Burnett
Don't miss out on the headlines from South Burnett. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Welcome to your ultimate guide to the 2024 local government elections in the South Burnett, the candidates, where to vote, how to vote and early voting information.
Queensland voters will head to the polls on March 16 to decide the make-up of their local councils for the next four years.
In Australia, voting is not only a right and a responsibility, it is also compulsory for eligible Australian citizens aged 18 or older.
If you don’t vote, you may be fined, with fines starting at $66.
Before you vote
Check your enrolment or update your details on the Australian Electoral Commission website.
If you recently moved house or have updated other key details it is best to update your enrolment information before the election.
It is compulsory to enrol in council, state and federal government elections if you are an Australian citizen or eligible British subject; are aged 18 years or over; or have lived at your address for at least one month.
Special enrolment categories are available for people with specific needs including those who have no fixed address or are an Australian citizen living and working overseas.
For detailed information about the special enrolment options available to you go to the AEC website.
Nineteen council candidates for the South Burnett local elections
How to vote
Once you are sure your enrolment information is accurate and up-to-date, you can find out which division of the South Burnett region you will be casting your vote for.
Head to the ‘where is my electorate?’ page from the AEC, type in your address and remember to switch the tab to Local Government.
Once you have confirmed your division, do your research and find out who is running for that seat and what they represent.
You can find out where your closest polling booth is here.
Polling is typically hosted in local schools or community halls.
For more election facts, head to the AEC website to find out more on common misinformation, frequently asked questions and background data.
Early voting
From Monday, March 4 early voting can be done at early voting centres in Nanango, Kingaroy, Blackbutt and Murgon.
Early voting centres will be open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm* up until Friday, March 15, 2024.
*On March 15, polling will be open until 6pm at all early voting centres.
Nanango early voting centre
South Burnett Regional Council
48 Drayton St, Nanango, Qld Australia 4615
Kingaroy LG returning officer South Burnett early voting
South Burnett Regional Council – Reception Room
45 Glendon St, Kingaroy, Qld Australia 4610
Blackbutt early voting centre
Blackbutt Library
Murgon early voting centre
South Burnett Regional Council
42 Stephens St, Murgon, Qld Australia 4605
Postal Voting
Anyone can submit a postal vote, but you need to apply here.
Postal votes must be received by the Electoral Commission Queensland within 10 days after election day to be included in the count. If a vote is received after the deadline, it won’t be counted.
Election day, March 16, 2024
Once you have confirmed your electoral information is up-to-date, you’ve done your research on candidates and confirmed your closest polling booth you’re ready to head to the polls on March 16.
When you arrive at a polling booth, head to the issuing officer table where an election official will verify your identity before giving you your ballot paper.
You may be required to confirm your address, so make sure your information is current with the Australian Electoral Commission when doing so.
After that, you’ll be directed to a voting booth where you can cast your ballot in private, take your time and make sure to read the information provided on the ballot slip.
Place your completed ballot in the ballot box as you leave.
Polling officials will be available to provide assistance should you have any questions.
List of candidates
Here is the list of candidates in the order they will be presented on the ballot:
Mayor candidates
Gavin Jones
Division 1
Tom De Weers
Jane Erkens
Division 2
Wendy Hazelton
Division 3
Danita Potter (unopposed)
Division 4
Gerald Daly
Dan Andersson
Deb Dennien
Division 5
Stuart Battese
Allan Walters
Division 6
Scott Henschen
What happens if you do not vote
After an election, records are checked and if it appears you have not voted you may receive an apparent failure to vote notice.
This notice will provide you with an opportunity to say if you did or didn’t vote, or why you didn’t vote.
If you receive the notice you can provide your valid reasoning for not casting a vote, confirm that you did cast a vote by providing the appropriate details or pay a fine of one penalty unit at the time of the offence, or half this amount if the fine is paid before the due date.
If you don’t respond to the apparent failure to vote notice, you are likely to receive an infringement notice, which is the fine for not voting.
If the fine is not paid, you may be referred to the State Penalties Enforcement Registry (SPER) for further action and additional charges may apply.
More Coverage
Originally published as Free read: The ultimate South Burnett Regional Council election guide
‘Could have bought a unit’: $311,000 highway party price tag slammed
The Transport Minister has confirmed that a five-hour community open day to celebrate the near completion of the $1B Bruce Highway bypass of Gympie cost more than $311,000, or the equivalent of about $60,000 an hour.
Young woman airlifted after car ploughs into tree on D’Aguilar Hwy
A woman in her late teens has been choppered from the Somerset Region to the Princess Alexandra Hospital after her car ran off the highway and into a tree.
‘No love given to us. Beatings and floggings … a daily routine’
Traumatised children separated from their parents at young ages, thrown into dormitories and sexually, physically and mentally abused, have shared their stories at Queensland’s Truth Telling Inquiry.
$1400+ plus an hour: Staggering amount you can lose on pokies
A gambling researcher has shed light on why more money is being sunk into pokie machines during a cost-of-living crisis amid some alarming research findings about the harm caused to problem gamblers.
Proposal for Wondai Men’s Shed lease hits a snag in council vote
A council vote on leasing land to the Wondai and District Men’s Shed stalled this week despite a council staff recommendation.
Revised plan for Bunya Hwy service station gets green light
Bright lights aside, the South Burnett Regional Council has unanimously voted in favour of some planning changes for a new service station to be built in Wondai.