THE final cost of last October’s Division 4 by-election has been revealed, and it is almost half the amount of initial reported estimates.
Latest Council papers showed costs for the delivery of the by-election were $266,539 (GST accounting for $24,230.82 of that sum) – 48.46 percent of initial Electoral Commission Queensland (ECQ) forecasts which were reported in some instances as being as high as $550,000.
The ECQ said the original quotes were high because they included the cost of delivering a stand-alone by-election.
“However, substantial savings were realised due to holding the by-election with the 2024 State general election,” the ECQ spokeswoman said.
“Savings occurred in the areas of accommodation, staffing, and information for voters.
“This provided voters with the convenience of only voting at the combined elections in their electorate [and] ECQ was able to pass these savings on to the Ipswich City Council.”
Last year, Mayor Teresa Harding said she was unsure how anyone could “justify this unnecessary expense to our ratepayers, particularly during a cost-of-living crisis”, while Council CEO Sonia Cooper thought council cost-saving measures might have to be implemented as its budget would be overstretched.
Councillors had the option to skip a by-election and appoint the division runner-up of the March 2024 council elections, Russell Milligan.
Division 3 Councillor Andrew Antoniolli said ECQ cost estimates had caused unease in Ipswich.
“At one stage, we were being informed as much as $500,000, then $400,000, before they finally settled on a quote of $395,000,” Cr Antoniolli said.
“Their quote caused a lot of angst in the community over the cost of the by-election not to mention the pressure on councillors over the cost versus benefit.
“I believe the result showed that the majority got it right, however, to now receive an invoice considerably lower than quoted one angers me because of the friction their quote caused.
“Had they quoted more accurately, I believe that the discussion would’ve been different, certainly more amicable.
“It is indefensible for the ECQ to get it so wrong.”
Mayor Teresa Harding declined to comment.
