Polling stations at Queensland elections are becoming increasingly unsafe for voters, candidates and volunteers.
During the March council election, people were verbally and physically abused.
Two days before the election, a ward office window was shattered by what authorities suspect were ball bearings fired from a paint gun.
People of all political persuasions raised similar concerns about abuse during the campaign.
The 2024 local government election review was an opportunity to investigate these issues and recommend reforms.
Unfortunately, these issues were ignored altogether.
If abuse and violence at polling stations in Queensland continues to escalate, there’s a real risk voters and volunteers will stop turning up and good people won’t want to represent their local community.
That would be an appalling outcome for democracy.