South Burnett Local Government Election - Update
The Electoral Commission of Queensland (ECQ) has carefully considered the impact of COVID-19 on the conduct of the 2020 local government elections. This includes the declaration of COVID-19 as a global pandemic and the decisions by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) on 13 and 15 March 2020 that organised non-essential mass gatherings of over 500 people should be cancelled.
After considering this decision and taking advice from Queensland Health, the ECQ has determined that, based on current advice available, the elections should proceed. This is on the basis that: the elections facilitate an essential service by providing for continuity of democratic representation for Queenslanders; and static gatherings at polling places are not likely to exceed the 500 person threshold set by COAG.
The ECQ acknowledges that this is a unique situation for Queensland electors and will be enhancing its service delivery approach for these elections to promote public health and confidence in participating in the electoral process. This includes additional personal hygiene precautions and people management measures for both electors and polling officials at polling booths.
Remember, voting is compulsory.
What personal hygiene measures will be in place?
- Queensland Health’s personal hygiene guidelines are to be followed by all people at polling booths including voters and polling officials. Copies of these guidelines will be distributed to and available at early voting centres and polling booths.
- Hand sanitiser will be available for voters and polling officials at early voting centres and polling booths.
- Additional cleaning of polling booth areas will be undertaken to ensure that all surfaces are regularly disinfected.
- Voters are encouraged to bring their own pen or pencil with them to vote, although pencils will still be available to all voters.
How will the numbers and proximity of people be managed during voting?
- Early voting is currently open and will be available until Friday 27 March. Voters are encouraged to vote during the early voting period at a time convenient to them, where possible outside of peak periods. Voters should note that numbers are usually higher at lunch time or the end of the day.
- South Burnett early voting centres have extended voting hours where possible to do so to provide additional options for voters, please see below for opening hours.
- Polling officials will be monitoring the number of people in attendance at polling booths to make sure there are fewer than 500 people present at any one time.
Whilst how to vote cards will be made available at polling venues, candidates have agreed not to physically hand out how to vote cards, with residents invited to ‘help themselves’. Candidates and a limited number of volunteers may still attend polling stations.
Pre-Polling
Early voting will be conducted between Monday16 March and Friday 27 March 2020.
South Burnett venues for pre-polling include:
- Nanango – South Burnett Regional Council, 48 Drayton St
- Blackbutt – South Burnett Regional Council, 69 Hart St
- Kingaroy – South Burnett Regional Council, Town Hall Reception Room, 45 Glendon St
- Murgon – South Burnett Regional Council, 42 Stephens St
- Wondai – South Burnett Regional Council, Cnr MacKenzie & Scott Sts
South Burnett Polling Booths will be open at the following times:
- Wednesday 18 March 9am-5pm
- Thursday 19 March 9am-9pm
- Friday 20 March 9am-5pm
- Saturday 21 March 9am-5pm
- Monday 23 March 9am-6pm
- Tuesday 24 March 9am-6pm
- Wednesday 25 March 9am-9pm
- Thursday 26 March 9am-9pm
- Friday 27 March 9am-6pm
South Burnett Election Day Polling Booths - Saturday 28 March 2020
- Nanango - Divisions 1 & 2 - Nanango State School, 39 Drayton St (access via Burnett St),
- Blackbutt - Division 2 - Blackbutt State School, 25 Crofton St
- Brooklands - Division 2 - Brooklands Rural Fire Brigade, Lord St
- Maidenwell - Division 2 - Maidenwell Hall, Pool St
- Coolabunia - Division 3 - Coolabunia State School, Cnr D'Aguilar H’way and Mary St
- Kingaroy - Divisions 3, 4 & 6 - Kingaroy State High School, 15 Toomey St
- Kingaroy - Division 3 - Taabinga State School, Railway Tce
- Kingaroy -Division 4 - St John's Lutheran School, 84 Ivy St
- Cloyna - Division 5 - Cloyna State School, 8 William Webber Rd
- Mondure - Division 5 - Community Hall, 12 McConnell Way
- Murgon - Division 5 - PCYC South Burnett, 40‐42 Macalister St
- Proston - Division 5 - Proston State School, 94 Rodney St
- Wheatlands - Division 5 - Wheatlands State School, 422 Byee Rd
- Durong South – Division 6 - Durong Community Hall, 8940 Chinchilla Wondai Rd
- Inverlaw - Division 6 - Farmers Hall, 1136 Kingaroy‐Burrandown Rd
- Kumbia - Division 6 - Kumbia State School, 22 Bell St
- Wondai - Division 6 - Wondai Memorial Hall, Cnr Mackenzie & Scott Sts
- Wooroolin – Division 6 - Wooroolin State School, 34 Frederick St
Information sourced from the Electoral Commission Queensland website.
