VOTING ARRANGEMENTS IN GREGORY

With the campaign in full swing, I just wanted to outline the voting arrangements in Gregory for you.

Postal Voting

Gregory has a high proportion of voters who are permanently registered as postal voters because of their remote locations.

Timing is Key

This year, the Palaszczuk administration allowed postal voting for all Queenslanders – even if you live in the Brisbane CBD. As a result, the ECQ has received about one million applications for postal votes.

To manage that many ballots through the post means timing will be key.

Can’t Post Until Printed

The ECQ can’t post the postal ballots out to these applicants, until it has printed the ballot papers for that electorate.

Can’t Print Without Candidate Order
It can’t print the ballot papers, until the order of the candidates on the ballot paper is determined.

Can’t Draw Until Candidates Close
It can’t hold the draw for ballot paper order until nominations close. Nominations didn’t close until midday, Sunday October 11. The draws took place at 2.30 pm Sunday afternoon.

Once Printed have to Physically Post

So, printing couldn’t start until Sunday night at the earliest. There are 93 electorates to print for and then they have to create the individual envelopes for each applicant and actually post out the ballots.

Start Worrying Next Week

Don’t worry if your postal ballots are yet to arrive. You can start worrying next week. Next week is the middle week of the five week period in which postal ballots are being sent out and returned.

Special Logistics
Many Gregory postal addresses are some of Queensland’s most far-flung. When the ballot papers are coming to you, they are coming as part of a contract between Australia Post and the ECQ. I have been told that Australia Post has the logistics planned for that bit.

Trip Back May Be Slower
The key thing for postal voters is the “turn-around”. The slower part of the journey is the return leg when your ballot papers must wend their way back to the ECQ to be counted.

November 10 is Cut-Off for Returns

The ECQ will not count ballots received after 6 pm on Tuesday November 10, 2020.

So, if you live on a property and receive your post via a mail-run, sit the mailman down with a cuppa, fill in your ballots and give them to him on the spot if you can. Fast turn-around will help ensure your vote counts.

Can I Change My Mind and Not Go Postal?

Yes, you absolutely can. You can decide to vote at an early voting venue if you are going to be near one, even if you have applied for a postal ballot.

And you won’t be the only one to change your mind.

The ECQ said in media reports that it expects many of these one million postal votes won’t be used because people will visit an early voting centre instead.

Many People Are Doing This
I have already had many people contact me because they have had to come to town unexpectedly and would prefer to get their vote lodged in person rather than risk losing their vote to a late return.

Destroy Unused Postal Ballot When It Arrives
That is quite legal. Your name will be marked off on the roll as having voted at the booth, and if and when the postal ballot arrives, just tear it up so it can’t be mis-used.

One Time Only
So, it is up to you whether you cast your vote at a polling booth or you use your postal ballots when they arrive. The important thing is not to vote twice! That is seriously illegal!

Where Are Gregory’s Voting Centres?

The location of early voting centres is determined by the ECQ. Parties and candidates do not have any say. The omission of some towns in Gregory is of concern and if I am re-elected, I will write to the Commissioner to raise these concerns.

The location of the early voting centres differ from the location of polling booths for the official election Saturday, October 31. I will give you both below.

Here they are in alphabetical order:

Alpha – Election Day Only (Alpha has not been offered early voting)

Alpha State School, 11 Milton Street, Alpha

Open for Voting Saturday, October 31 from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Aramac - Early Voting

Queensland Government Agent (QGAP), 58 Gordon Street, Aramac

Open for Voting from October 19 to October 30, Monday to Friday.

Opening hours are 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, except on Monday October 19 and 26 and Friday October 23 when voting will be open until 4:45 PM.

On the final early voting day, Friday October 30, voting will be accepted until 6:00 PM.

Aramac - Election Day

Aramac State School, 69 Porter Street, Aramac

Open for Voting Saturday, October 31 from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Barcaldine – Election Day Only (Barcaldine has not been offered early voting)

Barcaldine State School, Gidyea Street, Barcaldine.

Open for Voting Saturday, October 31 from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Blackall - Early Voting

Blackall QGAP, Shamrock Street, Blackall

Open for Voting from October 19 to October 30, Monday to Friday.

Opening hours are 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM, except on the final early voting day, Friday October 30, when votes will be accepted until 6:00 PM.

Blackall – Election Day

Blackall Cultural Centre, 17 Hawthorn Street, Blackall

Open for Voting Saturday, October 31 from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Blackwater – Early Voting

Blackwater Aquatic Centre, 30 Hunter Street, Blackwater

Open for Voting from October 19 to October 30, Monday to Friday and on Saturday, October 24.

Opening hours are 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Mon, Wed and Friday
9:00 AM to 9:00 PM, Tues and Thursday 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Saturday, October 24

Blackwater – Election Day

Blackwater State School, 43 Wey Street, Blackwater

Open for Voting Saturday, October 31 from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Bluff – Election Day (Bluff has not been offered early voting)

Bluff State School, 32 Main Street, Bluff

Open for Voting Saturday, October 31 from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Boulia – Election Day (Boulia has not been offered early voting)

Boulia State school, Templeton Street, Boulia

Open for Voting Saturday, October 31 from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Capella – Election Day (Capella has not been offered early voting)

Capella State High School, 35 – 45 Gordon Street, Capella

Open for Voting Saturday, October 31 from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Duaringa – Election Day (Duaringa has not been offered early voting)

Duaringa State School, 1 Charlotte Street, Duaringa

Open for Voting Saturday, October 31 from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Emerald – Early Voting

160 Egerton Street, Emerald This is the building on the corner of Egerton Street and Max Gorlick Drive, adjacent to the Coles Shopping Centre Car Park.

Open for Voting from October 19 to October 30, Monday to Friday and on Saturday, October 24.

Opening hours are 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Mon, Wed and Friday
9:00 AM to 9:00 PM, Tues and Thursday 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Saturday, October 24

Emerald Election Day

There will be three booths open on election day, Saturday, October 31 from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM. They are located at:

Emerald North State School, Campbell Street, Emerald

Denison State School, 16 Gray Street, Emerald

Emerald Christian College, 6373 Gregory Highway, Emerald

Ilfracombe – Election Day (Ilfracombe has not been offered early voting)

Ifracombe State School, 20 McMaster Street, Ilfracombe

Open for Voting Saturday, October 31 from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Jericho – Election Day (Jericho has not been offered early voting)

Jericho State School, 1 Pasteur Street, Jericho

Open for Voting Saturday, October 31 from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Longreach – Early Voting

Arts and Crafts Pavilion, Longreach Showgrounds, Sandpiper Street, Longreach

Open for Voting from October 19 to October 30, Monday to Friday and on Saturday, October 24.

Opening hours are 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Mon, Wed and Friday
9:00 AM to 9:00 PM, Tues and Thursday 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Saturday, October 24

Longreach – Election Day

Arts and Crafts Pavilion, Longreach Showgrounds, Sandpiper Street, Longreach

Open for Voting Saturday, October 31 from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Rolleston – Election Day (Rolleston has not been offered early voting)

Rolleston State School, 16 Warrijo Street, Rolleston

Open for Voting Saturday, October 31 from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Rubyvale – Election Day (Rubyvale has not been offered early voting)

Rubyvale Hall, 7 Buridge Road, Rubyvale

Open for Voting Saturday, October 31 from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Sapphire – Election Day (Sapphire has not been offered early voting)

Sapphire Community Hall, Rethammel Road, Sapphire

Open for Voting Saturday, October 31 from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Springsure – Election Day (Springsure has not been offered early voting)

Springsure State School, 55 Eclipse Street, Springsure

Open for Voting Saturday, October 31 from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Tambo – Election Day (Tambo has not been offered early voting)

Tambo State School, 16 Mitchell Street, Tambo

Open for Voting Saturday, October 31 from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Tieri – Election Day (Tieri has not been offered early voting)

Tieri State School, Bottlebrush Lane, Tieri

Open for Voting Saturday, October 31 from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Winton – Election Day (Winton has not been offered early voting)

Winton Shire Supper Room, 75 Vindex Street, Winton

Open for Voting Saturday, October 31 from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Woorabinda – Election Day (Woorabinda has not been offered early voting)

HACC Building, Munns Drive, Woorabinda

Open for Voting Saturday, October 31 from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM

That is the end of it as I am afraid there were no polling booths at all in Dingo, Isisford, Muttaburra or the entire Diamantina Shire or Barcoo Shire.

Make Sure Your Vote is Not Informal

Labor has introduced “Full Preferential Voting” for this election. For your vote to be valid, you must number every square on the ballot paper.

You must number your preferences starting with the number 1 for the candidate you think is best, 2 for the one you think is second-best, and so on until every square is numbered.

Yes, this does mean we all have to vote for candidates we don’t agree with. Full Preferential Voting means you must give them a number anyway.

You cannot give two candidates the same number. You can’t have two candidates in equal last place for instance.

A Civil Contest

While elections are meant to be contests, they should be peaceful contests. While there have been reports of bullying, trolling, vandalism and even a physical altercation at a Gladstone booth, I am pleased to say that Gregory once again seems to be the home of happy competition.

Moving around the early polling booths, volunteers for all candidates are chatting, sharing coffee and chairs, shade and water with each other. This is how it should be. That is what keeps democracy strong.

Thanks to all the Volunteers and Voters

I would like to thank everyone for voting and I especially thank everyone who has volunteered, be it handing out how to vote cards, scrutineering or running the polling booths for the ECQ.

With such an extended voting period it has been a challenge for all parties to man the booths every day. Volunteers have been on the job, sometimes from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM on normal working, weekdays.

This has been a very big ask. I especially thank the people who have gone out of their way to help my campaign.

Thank You for Reading my Letters

Thanks for reading my letters. Thanks also for the feedback and encouragement you have given me in response to the letters.

Why Politics?

Some of that feedback was that some readers hate me talking politics in these letters. In my defense, I am a politician and the challenges we face in Gregory are political in nature. We have to get real about them.

Everyone who lives in Gregory is aspirational. That means they hope to make something of their lives and make a contribution to their community as they do it. Even those Gregory people who have “made” their big success, are still contributing and dreaming. If they weren’t, they wouldn’t be living in Gregory. They would have moved to softer climes.

I Want to See Gregory Prosper

I still have things I want to achieve for Gregory and for you all, whether you are living in the shed or in your dream home; whether you are working in the mines or battling through the drought or making all our lives better as a tradie or small business person.

We Deserve a Fair Go
Gregory is a major generator of products, particularly as an export earner for the state. We deserve better health services, better roads, better infrastructure and a fairer deal in terms of red tape and green tape and the laws that affect your daily bread.

That is why I entered politics. I take the privilege of representing you very seriously and these newsletters are my way of reporting back to you.

They are also my way of raising the political issues that affect Gregory, so you can tell me what you think. And that helps me represent you better.

The Gregory Offices Are Still Open

Even though we are in “caretaker mode”, the Gregory offices are still open to assist you.

If you need help or advice related to any state government issue, please don’t hesitate to call. If we can’t help you, we can usually give you the contacts for the right person who can. Gregory Longreach is PH (07) 4521 5700. Gregory Emerald (07) 4913 1000.

Kindest Regards – and stay safe,

Lachlan Millar MP
Member for Gregory and
Shadow Minister for Fire, Emergency Services and Volunteers.

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