By-Election Process Underway Following Councillor Resignation

The Mackay Regional Council has officially triggered the by-election process to fill the vacant councillor position left by the resignation of Cr George Christensen, following a special meeting held on Wednesday, June 4.

The meeting, convened at 8.30am in the Sir Albert Abbott Administration Building, was called specifically to address the vacancy, which came into effect at 5.00pm on Friday, May 30. Councillors gathered to determine how the position—now legally required to be filled within two months—will be managed in accordance with the Local Government Act 2009.

Mayor Greg Williamson confirmed that under the Act, a by-election must be held because the vacancy occurred during the mid-term period of Council’s electoral cycle. This window is defined as beginning on the first anniversary and ending the day before the third anniversary of the last quadrennial election.

Rather than opting for a traditional polling day, councillors voted in favour of recommending a postal ballot as the preferred method for the by-election. This recommendation will now be sent to the Minister for Local Government, who must approve the process and formally request the Electoral Commission Queensland (ECQ) to administer the election.

Mayor Williamson said a postal ballot presented the most practical and economical solution.

“It’s the cheapest way for Mackay Regional Council to hold a by-election, particularly after recent state and federal elections, which have likely caused a bit of voter fatigue,” he said.

Council highlighted three key advantages of using a postal ballot: reduced costs, increased accessibility for voters, and the convenience of participating without attending polling booths in person. The ECQ has previously advised that postal ballots offer savings when compared to full in-person voting infrastructure.

However, the mayor acknowledged that choosing this method may delay the completion of the process slightly beyond the standard two-month timeframe. Even so, Council was assured this would not invalidate the by-election, and it remained committed to ensuring a fair and timely process.

The cost of the by-election has been estimated at $700,000, with Council flagging the need for a budget amendment during the first quarterly review of the 2025/2026 financial year. The by-election costs were not included in the original draft budget, which is set to be adopted later this month.

Once the Minister receives the recommendation from Council, the ECQ will begin the process of scheduling the by-election. A confirmed date is expected to be announced within the next week, with the vote likely to take place in the coming months.

Council will continue to update the community as more information becomes available regarding nominations, voting procedures and timelines.

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Cr George Christensen was sworn in to Mackay Regional Council in 2024—less than 18 months before his unexpected resignation in May 2025

Councillors gathered in the Mackay Chambers on June 4 for a special meeting to set the wheels in motion for a by-election following Cr Christensen’s resignation

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