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By-election to determine new Division 4 councillor

05 September 2024

Ipswich City Council Division 4 residents will vote for a new councillor, following the resignation of former Councillor David Cullen.

Council Chief Executive Officer Sonia Cooper said at a special council meeting on Thursday, Councillors determined a by-election would be called to fill the Division 4 vacancy.

Cr Cullen resigned due to health reasons, effective Friday 30 August.

“Under Section 166 of the Local Government Act, Ipswich Councillors had to decide by resolution whether the vacancy would be filled by a by-election, or by requesting the Electoral Commission of Queensland to offer the vacancy to the runner-up of the March 2024 Division 4 election ballot,” Ms Cooper said.

“At Thursday’s meeting, council decided by resolution to fill the vacancy through a by-election, and to request to the relevant State Government Minister that the by-election be conducted either by postal ballot, or held on the same day as the State Election on October 26 2024.

“In line with the decision of the Council, I will write to the Electoral Commission of Queensland and the State Government Minister notifying them and requesting the appropriate steps be taken to proceed with a by-election for Division 4.”

The full text of the resolution is:

  1. That in accordance with section 163 of the Local Government Act 2009, in relation to the vacancy in Division 4 of the City of Ipswich, following the resignation of Councillor David William Cullen, Council decides to fill the vacancy in accordance with section 166(2)(a) of the Act.
  2. That in accordance with section 45AA(1)(b) of the Local Government Electoral Act 2011, Council apply to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Planning and Minister for Public Works (the Minister) for the poll referred to in Paragraph A to be conducted by postal ballot for the whole of Division 4, unless the election is conducted on the same date as the State election.
  3. That Council immediately advise the Electoral Commission of Queensland of its decision under Paragraph A.
  4. That the Council immediately apply to the Minister in accordance with Paragraph B.

“The Electoral Commission of Queensland looks forward to working with Ipswich City Council to prepare for the delivery of this important by-election for Division 4 residents and candidates,” Electoral Commission of Queensland Commissioner Pat Vidgen said.