The Liberal Nationals will retain a majority within Australia’s biggest local council as the re-elected Brisbane lord mayor slams the state’s electoral commission.
Adrian Schrinner declared victory in the Brisbane lord mayor race on Saturday night, claiming 48.3 per cent of the primary vote with 76 per cent counted as of 2pm AEST on Sunday.
Labor’s candidate Tracey Price has garnered 26.5 per cent of first ballots, while Greens hopeful Jonathan Sriranganathan secured just under 20 per cent.
Mr Schrinner said he was humbled by the result but criticised the performance of the Electoral Commission of Queensland.
“While we expect to retain a majority in council, unfortunately many wards remain either too close to call or not enough votes have been counted,” he said in a statement.
“Like me, I am sure many residents are disappointed at the slow count as well as the long queues and shortage of staff and ballot papers that occurred at many booths.
“The Electoral Commission of Queensland’s performance will need to be further considered once the counting is finished.”
With 64 per cent of votes counted, the ABC is projecting the the LNP will claim at least 17 of the 26 wards in the Brisbane City Council, which covers 1.25 million people.
Four wards have been called for Labor, one for Greens and one for an independent. Three wards remain in doubt, with Labor ahead in two.
Labor is facing a council-wide swing against it of more than five per cent, almost the exact gain for the Greens.
ABC chief election analyst Antony Green said the LNP had “lost furniture” but would maintain its majority and flagged a Greens primary vote of more than 30 per cent in western Brisbane wards.
“That’s well ahead of Labor and that points to what’s going to happen in Cooper and some of those seats in western Brisbane at the state election,” he said.
Outspoken Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate also claimed victory on Saturday evening after seeking a record fourth term in the top job.
Facing eight challengers, Mr Tate has collected 51.6 per cent of the primary vote as counting continued on Sunday afternoon.
Incumbent councillor Ryan Bayldon-Lumsden was trailing as he recontests division seven while facing a murder charge.
The 31-year-old is accused of killing his stepfather Robert Malcolm Lumsden, 58, at the family’s Arundel home in August.
With a little under 38 per cent of the vote counted, Mr Bayldon-Lumsden has recorded 20.54 per cent of first ballots.
It puts him third behind fellow candidates Joe Wilkinson (24.5 per cent) and Jenna Schroeder (23.9 per cent), who have criticised Mr Bayldon-Lumsden for running again after the council area was left without representation for six months.
Mr Bayldon-Lumsden, who has been forced to wear an electronic ankle bracelet, said the state government endorsed his candidacy despite a coming trial for the murder charge.
Premier Steven Miles told reporters last week he would be suspended again if re-elected.
Mayors and councillors were up for election across Queensland’s 77 local governments but some voters only had one option on their ballot as some candidates ran unopposed.
