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Queensland

Head of State: Governor
Leader of Government: Premier
Electoral Authority: Electoral Commission Queensland
Parliaments and Local Councils (Legislative Council abolished 1922)
Legislative Assembly		 Local Councils
Terms of Members of Parliament/Council The 2016 State Referendum has changed the term of Parliament from up to 3 years to a fixed 4 year term. This will take effect progressively over the next 3 parliamentary terms. 4 year fixed term of council with next election due to be held on Saturday 28 March 2020.
Number of Members Currently 93 elected from single-member electoral districts.
Full preferential.		 77 Mayors and 502 Councillors across 77 Councils.
Electoral Legislation

Electoral Act (1992).

Referendums Act (1997).

Local Government Act (2011).

The City of Brisbane Act (2010).
Voting Systems
(definitions)		 Full preferential voting (number every square in the order of your preferences). Optional Preferential Voting for divided councils and First-Past-The-Post for undivided. Mayors are elected under the Optional Preferential Voting system.
Enrolment and Voting Eligibility Same as for Commonwealth, an elector must have resided in the Queensland electoral district for one month.
A British subject (who is not an Australian citizen) in order to be entitled for enrolment under the Elections Act (1983) on 31 December 1991, the person had to be on an Australian (Commonwealth, State or Territory) roll between 1 May and 1 August 1983.
Prisoners who are serving a term of imprisonment are not eligible to vote.		 Electors eligible to vote for the Legislative Assembly.
Redistribution Provisions and Frequency

The Electoral Commissioner is a member of the Queensland Redistribution Commission, the temporary body which reviews and realigns state electoral boundaries. A review can be triggered as a result of one of three circumstances:

  • The Electoral Act is amended, changing the number of electoral districts;
  • A certain number of elections and a minimum period of time passes:
    (i)One year after the day appointed for the return of writs for the third general election held after an electoral redistribution, or the latest electoral redistribution becomes final; or
    (ii) - 7.5 years after an electoral redistribution, or the latest electoral redistribution, under this Act becomes final; whichever is later;
  • Enrolment changes where one-third or more districts are out of quota (the average number of enrolled electors +/- 10%) for two months in a row. 
Local Government Act (2009); and City of Brisbane Act (2010).
The Electoral Commissioner is a member of the Local Government Change Commission, which reviews local government boundaries. However the Change Commission may not act until the Minister for Local Government proposes a change.
 
Joint Rolls Arrangements between Commonwealth, States and Territories Provided by the Australian Electoral Commission since 1992. Electoral rolls are provided by the Australian Electoral Commission.
Funding, Donations and Disclosure Provisions FUNDING
  • Election funding is provided for candidates and registered political parties.
  • Election funding eligibility is based on a candidate achieving at least 6% of the formal first preference vote.
  • Election funding entitlement is calculated based on a dollar per vote figure or the candidate's actual expenditure; whichever is the least.
  • Policy development payments are paid to eligible political parties biannually from an allocated pool of $3million.
DISCLOSURE
  • Gift disclosure threshold of $1 000 which must be disclosed within seven business days of receiving the gift; or within seven days of providing the gift. 
  • Political parties, associated entities and third parties are required to disclose gifts, loans and expenditure biannually
  • Candidates and third parties are required to disclose gifts, loans and expenditure for each election
  • Publishers and broadcasters are required to disclose electoral advertisements for each election
  • Gifts of foreign property are prohibited.
  • Candidates are required to disclose gifts and loans for each election
  • Third parties are required to disclose expenditure for political activity and gifts received to enable expenditure
  • Gift disclosure threshold is $500
Interesting and Particular Feature(s) Unicameral Parliament. Brisbane City Council is the largest Local Government in population and budget in Australia.

Related Queensland electoral information

 See also