- Perspective
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- Queensland
- Council election
This was published 4 months ago
‘Just came to get a sausage’: What Brisbane voters wanted on election day
Brisbane residents will have felt the autumnal shift in the last few weeks; cooler mornings, longer nights and the occasional reprieve from the heat.
On election day, as months of campaigning from the city’s lord mayoral candidates came to a close, there was change in the air – but how dramatic that shift would be remained to be seen.
It’s officially election day. Brisbane residents have until 6pm to vote for the city’s next lord mayor.Credit: Courtney Kruk
Outside City Hall on Saturday morning, people were most focused on two things: finding where to go to vote inside the iconic Brisbane building, and beelining for a democracy sausage afterwards.
“We didn’t even come in to vote,” one lady told us. “We just came to get a sausage.”
For those queuing to decide Brisbane’s next lord mayor, the split between young and old – those voting for fresh ideas and change, and those comfortable with the status quo – was literal.
The first voter we spoke to, an older woman named Janette, told us in no uncertain terms she would be “voting blue”.
“Because I always have,” she said when asked why.
A man in a misleadingly bright red Lacoste shirt shared his thoughts on a subpar sausage first – “the bread’s a bit dry, it could have done with some butter” – before telling us he had voted for the LNP.
“I’m happy with how things are going, I don’t see a particular need to change,” he said.
Younger voters, like Liam Solley and Peter Rowland, were voting for a party promising a shake-up of current local politics.
“A lot of the things the parties have been running on have been pretty poor,” Solley, who was most concerned about wages, cheaper housing and climate change, said.
With a Gatorade bottle and Greens flyer in hand, Solley called the bins campaign “pretty ridiculous” and criticised Labor’s focus on half-price bus fares, calling it a poor strategy and “non-inspiring for voters”.
Rowland was hoping to see the Greens come out on top and said transport was the main issue he was voting on this election.
Younger voters like Liam Solley (pictured) were casting their votes towards change this election. Credit: Kristen Camp
“I don’t drive so public transport is pretty important to me … the less people we have driving the better,” he said.
A university student said she was also voting Greens because of their public transport policies.
“Public transportation is really expensive and I go to work on the other side of the city,” she said.
Outside the BrisWest Centre on Latrobe Terrace, a man sporting a fedora and a carefree attitude to match said many people confused local government issues with state government powers.
“Council is about roads, rates and rubbish,” he said between bites of his democracy dog.
What council elections really come down to: roads, rates and rubbish.Credit: Courtney Kruk
While the LNP and Greens dominated the day’s responses, Mark Ziegenfusz offered support for Labor lord mayor hopeful Tracey Price.
“I have trouble coming to terms with [Adrian Schrinner] on a personal level as well as politically,” he said.
The major parties will take the lion’s share of today’s votes – but for Brisbane resident Luke Fincher, they haven’t done enough to secure his vote.
“I’m going to be voting for the marijuana party,” he said.
“I used to vote for Greens but they just promise and don’t deliver. So I’m just voting for the weirdest party possible.
“I know they’re not going to get many votes and if they get a seat, they might ruffle a few feathers. That’s what I’m after.”
By midday, more than 1.8 million Queenslanders had cast their votes for the local government elections.
Electoral Commissioner Pat Vidgen thanked voters for their participation in choosing who they want to represent their local communities.
“Polling booths will be open until 6pm today, so if people are yet to vote, there’s still plenty of time to make it along to a booth in your local area,” he said.
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