A well-known political commentator said state government dissent could impact outcomes at Logan’s local government election in March.
Political scientist and associate professor at Griffith University, Paul Williams said dissatisfaction with the management of state government portfolios – specifically cost-of-living, crime and health – could see incumbents at the next council election booted from their seats.
“Incumbency is not necessarily a buffer or protector, because it depends on a myriad of factors,” he said.
“Things that are really bugging voters are crime, cost of living and health.
“Everyone’s dealing with these issues and if people can’t pay their rent or their rates, they may well kick every incumbent out.”
Mr Williams said voters generally did not understand council’s jurisdiction does not cover any of these portfolios.
“There is confusion about what areas of jurisdiction local, state and federal politics do,” he said.
“The vast majority of voters tune out of politics until it’s election time, and don’t know much about policy detail.
“I saw one poll that showed the majority of Queenslanders blamed Annastacia Palaszczuk for global inflation.”
Despite this, Mr Williams said council elections were often a “popularity contest”, meaning incumbents could benefit merely from recognition.
He said fresh-faced candidates hoping to be competitive should possess a “pre-established local profile”.
“It’s about the personal image, or integrity, of the candidates,” Mr Williams said.
“To rival an incumbent, you’d need someone with a comparable pre-established public profile – like a well-known businessperson, or a sports star, or TV celebrity or a former Australian of the year.”
So far, only four council divisions in Logan have more than one candidate; eight sitting councillors will run uncontested.
Mr Williams said incumbents at the Logan election could also benefit from council’s detachment from party politics.
“Interestingly, voters in areas like Logan don’t like party labels,” Mr Williams said.
“When you don’t have party labels, then the individual candidate matters.
“They build up a personal brand, which can be very powerful.”
Logan City Council is an independent council, meaning councillors run under their own ticket without direct party influence.
“People don’t see council politics as politics – they see it is a public service or managerial role, providing rates, roads and rubbish,” Mr Williams said.
“But council is about managing budgets, making decisions that affect your lives.
“It’s about making tough policy decisions, about winning and losing elections, and the distribution of scarce resources – it doesn’t get more political than this.
He said that without a political party’s resources, Logan City Council candidates worked even harder to establish their names in the community.
“Candidates need to be seen on social media meeting voters, kissing babies, playing sport with the kids, filling in potholes and fishing shopping trolleys out of creeks – that’s the sort of thing voters like to see.”
Official candidate nominations opened on Monday 29 January.
Nominations close on Tuesday 13 February.
The 2024 local government elections are on Saturday 16 March.
