Divisions Or No Divisions?

That Is The Question

By Amanda Wright

A major shake-up could be on the cards for how Mackay is represented, with council now seeking community feedback on whether to begin the process of reinstating electoral divisions.

Since amalgamating with Sarina and Mirani councils in 2008, Mackay Regional Council has operated as an undivided council—meaning all 10 councillors and the Mayor are elected to represent the entire local government area, rather than specific geographic divisions or wards.

Now, the question is being put back to the people: should that structure change?

At the March ordinary meeting of council, Cr Alison Jones successfully presented a notified motion to begin a process of checking community sentiment on the idea of having a divided council.

The resolution was, in part, for council to undertake a preliminary, low-cost consultation process to assess community sentiment on whether council should initiate a formal review.

Cr Jones said it’s time to bring back divisions, and accountability, across the region.

Cr Jones, who was part of the council when divisions were removed following amalgamation in 2008, said the idea of being undivided was supposed to foster a region-first mindset. But she believes that promise has not been fulfilled.

“Sixteen years down the track, that never happened,” she said.

“A few things have been tried, but I don’t believe it’s been effective.”

Cr Jones said one of the core problems was residents not knowing who to call when they needed help.

“I had a gentleman ring me from the Northern Beaches, ‘who’s my local person?’ he asked. And I explained, ‘you’ve got ten people to choose from’. He said, ‘oh, I just called you because I knew your name’,” she said.

“That’s what it comes down to.

“If you’re known in your community, people will come to you, and it becomes an unfair division of labour.

“If you’re known, that means you’ve done the hard yards. You’re accountable.”

Cr Jones said an undivided council might work well financially, but divisions offered something money couldn’t buy, clear lines of responsibility.

“What divisions do is make a councillor accountable to their electorate, their division,” she said.

Since 2008, she said, that accountability had been lost.

“We’ve had councillors that don’t answer emails or phone calls for four years. The community only connects with you when they need something. And if you’re not there, what does that say?”

She also warned that undivided councils allowed some councillors to “give up their portfolios” and avoid responsibility altogether.

“How’s that even an option?” she asked.

“The game is accountability and equity.”

Cr Jones acknowledged divisions weren’t perfect, but said they gave people a voice.

“Divisions have good and bad points,” she said.

“But accountability is certainly important. And the community being able to connect with somebody they know, that’s important.”

She described the current system as inequitable, particularly for rural communities.

“Imagine being in places like Bloomsbury. They just feel like they’re not being heard because of a lack of local representation in that area.”

While Cr Jones would like to see divisions return, she said she would also support councillors having clearer responsibilities within council.

“Every councillor should have a portfolio,” she said.

She said the return to divisions wouldn’t just benefit residents, but would help councillors focus on local needs.

“At the end of the day, the needs should always come first over the wants.”

Mayor Greg Williamson said this consultation was being funded within the existing budget, primarily using a survey on council’s community engagement portal Connecting Mackay.

He said the result of that survey and the amount of community interest would assist council to decide whether it should progress to a formal review involving the State Government.

“That would be a much more complex engagement process with the community and the government if there is enough interest in heading down that track.”

Mayor Williamson said there were currently more than 20 divided councils in Queensland, including nearby neighbours Whitsunday, Isaac, Rockhampton and Townsville.

He said there were more than 50 undivided councils in the state.

“The question of undivided verse divided councils is quite a complex one. We’d encourage anyone taking part in the survey to do some research on the advantages and disadvantages.

“We’ll have some independent answers to FAQs on our Connecting Mackay webpage where the survey will be located.”

The survey is now open and will remain open until June 1. A report is due back to the ordinary meeting of council in late June.

Complete the survey on the Connecting Mackay website online, at connectingmackay.com.au.

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Councillor Alison Jones in Chambers during discussions on Mackay's potential return to electoral divisions. Photo supplied

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