Nominations are open for the vacant Councillor position on Cairns Regional Council, following the recent resignation of Mayor Bob Manning and appointment of Cr Terry James as Mayor.
CEO Mica Martin said Council was following the requirements under the Local Government Act 2009 (LGA) to fill the vacant Councillor position for the remainder of the term.
Under the LGA there is no requirement to hold an election to fill the vacant office of Councillor as the vacancy is now too close (within 12 months) to the next quadrennial local government election, set for 16 March 2024.
Nominations for the vacant Division 4 Councillor position will close 5pm on Monday 4 December 2023.
Mrs Martin said nominations for the vacant Councillor position are invited from any person who is qualified to be a Councillor, and from each person who was a candidate for election at the previous Local Government election in 2020.
“Notices calling for nominations will be published, including on Council’s website, and we will notify former candidates from the 2020 elections where we can,” Mrs Martin said.
“Council will then formally appoint one of these nominees at the Council meeting in December.”
Mrs Martin said individuals who meet the eligibility criteria outlined in the Councillor Nomination form, can register as a nominee and be considered for appointment until the end of the current term (up until 16 March 2024).
Nominees must live in the Cairns local government area and meet the conditions outlined in Sections 152-156 of the LGA. Nominees must also have completed the mandatory ‘So You Want to Be A Councillor’ course.
Intending nominees are invited to view the application requirements and to start preparing their application. Enquiries can be directed to:
