Nominations open for vacant Councillor position

Nominations are open for the vacant Councillor position on Cairns Regional Council, following the recent resignation of Mayor Bob Manning and appointment of Cr Terry James as Mayor.

CEO Mica Martin said Council was following the requirements under the Local Government Act 2009 (LGA) to fill the vacant Councillor position for the remainder of the term.

Under the LGA there is no requirement to hold an election to fill the vacant office of Councillor as the vacancy is now too close (within 12 months) to the next quadrennial local government election, set for 16 March 2024.

Nominations for the vacant Division 4 Councillor position will close 5pm on Monday 4 December 2023.

Mrs Martin said nominations for the vacant Councillor position are invited from any person who is qualified to be a Councillor, and from each person who was a candidate for election at the previous Local Government election in 2020.

“Notices calling for nominations will be published, including on Council’s website, and we will notify former candidates from the 2020 elections where we can,” Mrs Martin said.

“Council will then formally appoint one of these nominees at the Council meeting in December.”

Mrs Martin said individuals who meet the eligibility criteria outlined in the Councillor Nomination form, can register as a nominee and be considered for appointment until the end of the current term (up until 16 March 2024).

Nominees must live in the Cairns local government area and meet the conditions outlined in Sections 152-156 of the LGA. Nominees must also have completed the mandatory ‘So You Want to Be A Councillor’ course.

Intending nominees are invited to view the application requirements and to start preparing their application. Enquiries can be directed to:

• Email: ceo@cairns.qld.gov.au or
• The Executive Officer on telephone: 4044 3482.

All eligible nominations will be compiled and put to Council for consideration at the Ordinary Council Meeting on Wednesday 13 December.

More information on the mandatory training requirements and the role of a Councillor can be found by visiting the website of the Local Government Division of the Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning, www.statedevelopment.qld.gov.au/local-government or calling 4044 3482.

The vacant Councillor position will be appointed by the following method:

• The Mayor will chair the meeting
• The report before the meeting will identify the names of all nominees qualified to be a Councillor
• The Chair then calls for a mover and a seconder for the appointment of the first nominee as Councillor
• If there is a mover and a seconder, the matter is then put to a vote in the ordinary (and open) manner, as prescribed by section 254 of the Local Government Regulation 2012 (the Regulation) and Council’s Standing Orders. If a majority of Councillors vote to appoint the first nominee as Councillor, that is the end of the Councillor appointment process.
• If the first nominee does not secure the majority support of Councillors, the motion to appoint the first nominee fails and the Chair then calls for a mover and seconder for the appointment of the second nominee as Councillor. If there is a mover and seconder, the matter is then put to a vote. The process will, if necessary, repeat itself again and again if the second and subsequent nominees do not secure the majority support of Councillors.
• Once a majority of Councillors vote to appoint a Councillor, that is the end of the Councillor appointment process.

Following their appointment by Council, the CEO will then swear in a new Councillor.

More information relating to the March 2024 local government election, for people who are considering nominating for the election can be viewed at the ECQ website, by calling 1300 881 665 or via email, ecq@ecq.qld.gov.au