Rockhampton Regional Council Mayoral Positon

Published on 06 November 2017

Rockhampton Regional Council has today advised that Margaret Strelow has immediately gone on leave without pay from the position of Mayor following her announcement she is running as an independent candidate at the 2017 Queensland State Election

Acting CEO Ross Cheesman said the decision was provided for under Section 160B of the Local Government Act 2009 with a new Acting Mayor to be appointed at tomorrow’s Council Meeting while Deputy Mayor Cherie Rutherford is on approved leave.

“The Local Government Act 2009 states that;

“A councillor must take leave without pay for the duration of the period for which the councillor is a candidate, within the meaning of the Electoral Act, for election as a member of the Legislative Assembly.”

“A report will be presented at tomorrow’s Council meeting with Councillors to decide on who will fill the position of Acting Mayor during the campaign,” Mr Cheesman said.

“If Margaret Strelow is unsuccessful, she will return to the role of Mayor. If she is successful, a by-election will be called within 12 weeks with candidates called for to run for the position of Mayor,” Mr Cheesman said.

The relevant section of the Local Government Act 2009 is available here - https://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/act-2009-017#ch.6-pt.2-div.2