OPINION By Mitch Gaynor
HOW the Electoral Commission of Queensland was caught wanting after being given four years notice of local elections on the weekend is a matter worth pursuing.
Would five years have helped?
Lengthy delays, short-staffed booths, poor communication, running out of ballots, turning people away, and worst of all, actually closing booths early. Is this democracy in action?
The organisation only had one job to do and it failed, dismally.
The writing was on the wall months ago when the ECQ reached out to local news organisations such as GC&M News asking to run free editorial for ‘positions vacant’ during the election.
After suggesting that sounded like a job ad, the response was that they had spent all their marketing budget on social media and billboards.
Congratulations Mark Zuckerberg and co.
Come election day lo and behold, booths were either short-staffed or didn’t have the experience to deal with hiccups such as running out of ballot papers.
Incoming Division 1 councillor Jenny Broderikl said while the staff were trying their best, the system was a mess.
Sunshine Coast mayoral candidate, Rosanna Natoli, was also concerned as people were missing out on their right to vote.
Brisbane Lord Mayor also threw a shot over the bow, saying the ECQ’s performance should be investigated after counting has finished.
I’ve been voting at the same school for 15 years and had never seen queues as long as this.
When we finally got in it was clear why.
Just two people trying their best with a couple of laptops to funnel people through.
The ECQ also needs to explain how and why booths ran out of paper?
There is so much data available – they know exactly how many voters are in each division and booth.
Have trends changed that dramatically in four years?
As expected the ECQ defended their actions and said it would review data and turnout numbers.
An obvious reponse that’s too little, too late.