MORE than 35 new mayors are expected to step into the roles, with Queensland’s peak local
government body pointing to “voter grumpiness” in the bush and upheaval in indigenous communities as counting continues.
Former Queensland police minister Jack Dempsey was among the new faces claiming victory in the aftermath of Saturday’s election. The newly-elected Bundaberg mayor, who secured 70 per cent from more than three-quarters of the tallied votes, vowed to set the national standard in running a local government and called on the State Government to make it more affordable to live in Queensland.
Mr Dempsey said he had been “unshackled” from a political party to focus on making the Bundaberg region one of the best in the country. He planned to boost local jobs and use the Bundaberg port to increase the agricultural economy of the region, which he said nets in $550 million a year in fresh produce. “There is enormous potential for our port to promote produce out of our region,” he said.
“I want to show all of Australia what a beautiful region this is. I want to have the best operating council in Australia which will boost our local economy.”
The local government shake-up which was expected to be smaller than the changes in the 2012 election result, was being witnessed more in rural communities.
“The voter grumpiness was in the bush,” Local Government Association of Queensland chief executive Greg Hallam said.
“We saw some really high-profile, long-term mayors like Rob Loughnan at Maranoa … some of the longer-serving people in local government lose their seats.’’
He said the turnover in the 17 indigenous communities was also particularly high .
There was stability in the southeast corner where voters backed incumbent mayors such as Ipswich’s Paul Pisasale and the Gold Coast’s Tom Tate.
Mr Hallam said the return of the leaders was a sign of confidence in the administrations.
“Tom Tate (Gold Coast), Graham Quirk (Brisbane), Paul Pisasale (Ipswich), Allan Sutherland (Moreton Bay), Mark Jamieson (Sunshine Coast), Paul Antonio (Toowoomba), they got very high votes – and most of their council was returned,” he said.
The City of Bundaberg was a local government area located in the Wide Bay–Burnett region of Queensland, Australia, encompassing the centre and inner suburbs of the regional city of Bundaberg. The city covered an area of 95.5 square kilometres (36.9 sq mi), and existed as a local government entity in various forms from 1881 until 2008, when it amalgamated with several other councils in the surrounding area to form the Bundaberg Region.
Former Queensland police minister Jack Dempsey was among the new faces claiming victory in the aftermath of Saturday’s election. The newly-elected Bundaberg mayor, who secured 70 per cent from more than three-quarters of the tallied votes, vowed to set the national standard in running a local government and called on the State Government to make it more affordable to live in Queensland.
Mr Dempsey said he had been “unshackled” from a political party to focus on making the Bundaberg region one of the best in the country. He planned to boost local jobs and use the Bundaberg port to increase the agricultural economy of the region, which he said nets in $550 million a year in fresh produce. “There is enormous potential for our port to promote produce out of our region,” he said.
“I want to show all of Australia what a beautiful region this is. I want to have the best operating council in Australia which will boost our local economy.”
The local government shake-up which was expected to be smaller than the changes in the 2012 election result, was being witnessed more in rural communities.
“The voter grumpiness was in the bush,” Local Government Association of Queensland chief executive Greg Hallam said.
“We saw some really high-profile, long-term mayors like Rob Loughnan at Maranoa … some of the longer-serving people in local government lose their seats.’’
He said the turnover in the 17 indigenous communities was also particularly high .
There was stability in the southeast corner where voters backed incumbent mayors such as Ipswich’s Paul Pisasale and the Gold Coast’s Tom Tate.
Mr Hallam said the return of the leaders was a sign of confidence in the administrations.
“Tom Tate (Gold Coast), Graham Quirk (Brisbane), Paul Pisasale (Ipswich), Allan Sutherland (Moreton Bay), Mark Jamieson (Sunshine Coast), Paul Antonio (Toowoomba), they got very high votes – and most of their council was returned,” he said.
The City of Bundaberg was a local government area located in the Wide Bay–Burnett region of Queensland, Australia, encompassing the centre and inner suburbs of the regional city of Bundaberg. The city covered an area of 95.5 square kilometres (36.9 sq mi), and existed as a local government entity in various forms from 1881 until 2008, when it amalgamated with several other councils in the surrounding area to form the Bundaberg Region.
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