Special Council - 29 Oct 2026

Topics

• Redland Council seeks postal ballot for mayoral by-election
  Council has unanimously applied for the entire Redland local government area to use postal voting after the Mayor's resignation.
  If approved, residents could vote without travelling to a polling place, with particular implications for island communities and holiday-period electors.

Decisions

• Application for full postal ballot
  Council resolved to apply to the Electoral Commissioner for a written recommendation to the Minister that the mayoral by-election be conducted by postal ballot across the whole Redland City Council local government area. The motion was carried 10-0.
  A postal ballot could allow residents to vote without attending a polling place, with particular benefits for island residents and people voting during the holiday period.
• Chief Executive Officer authorised to progress application
  The Chief Executive Officer was authorised to submit the application and provide any further information reasonably required by the Electoral Commissioner.
  The application process can now proceed, but the postal-ballot method remains subject to recommendations and approval by the relevant state authorities.

Discussion

• Mayoral by-election voting method
  Following the Mayor's resignation, Council chose to seek a full postal ballot rather than an attendance ballot. The reasons cited included accessibility, reduced travel and transport costs, consistency across mainland and island communities, and expected lower costs.
  The final voting method, timetable and election arrangements will be determined through the Electoral Commissioner, Minister and Electoral Commission of Queensland processes.

Impacts

• Residents across the Redland City Council local government area may be able to vote by post in the mayoral by-election if the application is approved.
• Postal voting was proposed as especially accessible for residents of island communities and for electors during the holiday period.
• A postal ballot could reduce the need to travel to a polling place and associated transport costs.
• The Electoral Commission of Queensland will set the election timetable, prepare the electoral roll and declare the result.

Places

• Redland City Council local government area (local government area)
  The proposed postal ballot would apply across the whole local government area.
• Cleveland (suburb)
  Location of the Council Chambers where the special meeting was held.
• Redland island communities (community area)
  Residents were identified as a group that could benefit from postal voting, although individual islands were not specified.

Next

• The Chief Executive Officer submits Council's application to the Electoral Commissioner and provides any requested information.
  After the meeting; no specific deadline was stated.
• The Electoral Commissioner considers the application and may recommend the postal ballot to the Minister.
  Not specified.
• The Minister determines whether the mayoral by-election will use a full postal ballot.
  Not specified.
• The Electoral Commission of Queensland conducts the by-election and sets the election timetable if the arrangement is approved.
  To be determined.

Extract

U N C O N F I R M E D M I N U T E S SPECIAL MEETING Thursday, 29 October 2026 The Council Chambers 91 - 93 Bloomfield Street CLEVELAND QLD SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES 29 OCTOBER 2026 Order of Business 1 Declaration of Opening ...................................................................................................... 3 2 Record of Attendance and Leave of Absence ...................................................................... 4 3 Declaration of interests ..................................................................................................... 5 4 Reports from the Office of the CEO .................................................................................... 6...