Your official guide to the Groom by-election including COVID-19 safety measures SATURDAY 28 NOVEMBER 2020

VOTING IS COMPULSORY

FOR AUSTRALIAN CITIZENS AGED 18 YEARS AND OLDER

www.aec.gov.au

Bowenville Goombungee WARREGO HWY

Cooby Creek Reservoir

Oakey Highfields GROOM

Harlaxton

GORE HWY

N

E

W

Pittsworth E N Brookstead G L A N D

This guide is only relevant to H W people who are enrolled to vote Greenmount Y in the federal electoral division of Groom in . Message from the Electoral Commissioner

The AEC is committed to providing the highest standard of electoral services during the Groom by-election. During the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic this includes being at the forefront of protecting the health of voters, AEC staff and other participants.

Your wellbeing and that of the Groom community is in following such rules in recent times, and it is important to the AEC. That is why at this by-election important to maintain this when voting. I ask for and we will implement a range of protective measures at appreciate both your patience and cooperation with polling places, including social distancing and other the measures. hygiene practices. These, and the other actions outlined in this guide, are based on advice from I trust the information provided in this guide will health authorities and conform to specific restrictions help you confidently plan ahead for your vote at this and rules in place. by-election. It details the protective actions we have taken and the range of voting options available to While these measures are designed to protect the meet your personal circumstances, including postal community, they may also slow the voting and voting, more early voting centres, and of course a counting processes at this by-election. It may take large number of polling places in the electorate on longer for you to cast your vote at the polling place, by-election day. and you may have to queue under social distancing rules. Please help us protect your wellbeing and that of your community by following the advice on Tom Rogers the signs at the polling place and by listening to Electoral Commissioner the directions of AEC staff. We are all practised

Stop and consider Check the source this by-election

During electoral events there is a large amount of information being distributed which is seeking to influence your vote.

It’s important that you consider what you see, hear or read. Take the time to consider whether the information is from a reliable or recognisable source, current and safe (not a scam). If you have doubts about information there are questions you can ask to help you form your own opinion and make a decision. To find out more visitwww.aec.gov.au/stopandconsider

Information in this guide reflects circumstances at the time of printing. The AEC will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation and follow the advice from federal and state health authorities. This may result in changes to measures put in place. The Groom by-election will be held on Saturday 28 November 2020. Polling places open at 8am and close at 6pm sharp.

Why? In person If you are entitled to vote early, You will be voting for a representative Plan ahead you can vote at an early voting for the federal electoral division centre (below) from Wednesday of Groom in the House of before you vote 11 November 2020. Representatives. This by-election is ■■ While voting is often a social being held following the resignation Changes may occur to the activity, for this by-election of the member for Groom. information below. please limit attendance at Visit www.aec.gov.au/groom polling places to eligible Who has to vote? to see the final list of early voting voters only, and avoid centres and to check opening If you are enrolled in the federal socialising. dates and hours. electoral division of Groom you are ■■ Do your research on required to vote in the by-election. candidates and preferences If you are not sure whether you are DARLING HEIGHTS before you go to vote. enrolled in the division of Groom, Concannon College Dining Hall you should check your enrolment 131 Baker Street ■■ Single-use pencils will be given information at out at the polling place, but if www.aec.gov.au/check or call GLENVALE you prefer you can bring your 13 23 26 if you need help. 21 Rocla Court own pen or pencil to vote. What if I can’t make it? ■■ If you are feeling unwell TOOWOOMBA or have any cold or flu If you can’t make it to a polling place 101 Mort Street symptoms in the lead up to on by-election day, you may be 180 Herries Street by-election day, don’t attend entitled to vote early. a polling place. Postal voting By post is available. Apply online at For further information about early www.aec.gov.au/pva Postal voting is an important voting voting options and eligibility visit option available to eligible voters at www.aec.gov.au/groom or call ■■ Download the COVIDSafe app. this by-election. 13 23 26. You can apply for a postal vote online at www.aec.gov.au/pva Information in this guide Please call 13 23 26 if you don’t reflects circumstances at the time of printing. The AEC have online access and want to will continue to monitor the apply for a postal vote. COVID-19 situation and follow the advice from federal and The AEC must receive your state health authorities. This application as soon as possible may result in changes to and no later than 6pm local time measures put in place. Wednesday 25 November 2020. What happens at the polling place, including new COVID-19 safety measures

Stay at Cover your Sanitise Stand home if you coughs and your 1.5 metres are unwell sneezes hands apart

Due to COVID-19, health and ■■ You will be given your green safety measures at early voting ballot paper for the House of centres and polling places will Representatives. include: ■■ If you haven’t got your own Where? ■■ The number of voters in a pen or pencil, you will be given You can vote at any polling place polling place at any one time a single-use pencil. in the federal electoral division of will be managed. ■■ Voting booths will be separated Groom on by-election day. ■■ If, on arrival, you are not able and regularly cleaned. Please note that polling place to enter the polling place locations may have changed immediately you may be ■■ Read the instructions on your since you last voted. At the time required to queue outside, ballot paper carefully. of printing this publication, the keeping an appropriate ■ locations of some polling places distance from others. ■ Complete your ballot paper. You must number every box were yet to be confirmed. Final locations are available at ■■ Once inside, hand sanitiser to make your vote count. www.aec.gov.au/groom will be available for use. ■■ Take your pen or pencil with The final list of polling places, ■■ You will need to keep your you—don’t leave it in the along with a list of candidates, will distance from others when booth. be published in the High Country waiting to receive your ballot Herald on Tuesday 24 November, ■■ Once you have completed your paper, with floor markers in The Pittsworth Sentinel and The ballot paper, fold it and place it place to guide you. Oakey Champion on Wednesday in the ballot box provided. 25 November, On Our Selection ■ ■ When you reach the ballot News on Thursday 26 November paper issuing point, a polling Remember, if you need help, and The Chronicle (Toowoomba) official will ask for your full name you can ask a polling official. on Friday 27 November. and address, and if you have voted before in the 2020 Groom For accessible voting options by-election. Your name will be and information, visit marked off the electoral roll. www.aec.gov.au/groom or call 13 23 26. BIDDESTON HARRISTOWN QUINALOW Biddeston State School Good Shepherd Lutheran Hall Quinalow State School Harristown State High School BOWENVILLE RANGEVILLE Bowenville State School Toowoomba Community St Joseph’s College Baptist Church Rangeville State School BROOKSTEAD Toowoomba Philharmonic Society Brookstead State School ROCKVILLE HIGHFIELDS Rockville State School CAMBOOYA Mary MacKillop School Cambooya State School Highfields State School SOUTHBROOK Southbrook Central State School CENTENARY HEIGHTS Highfields State Secondary College Gabbinbar State School JONDARYAN TOOWOOMBA Centenary Heights State High School Jondaryan State School 101 Mort Street St Saviour’s College DARLING HEIGHTS KINGSTHORPE Darling Heights State School Kingsthorpe State School TOOWOOMBA CITY St Luke’s Hall DRAYTON KULPI Toowoomba North State School Drayton State School Kulpi State School EAST TOOWOOMBA WELLCAMP Wellcamp State School Fairholme College Meringandan State School Toowoomba East State School WESTBROOK MIDDLE RIDGE Bunkers Hill State School Middle Ridge State School Geham State School Toowoomba Valleys Leagues Club WILSONTON Fairview Heights State School GLENVALE MOUNT LOFTY Sacred Heart School Glenvale State School Toowoomba State High School Wilsonton State School GOOMBUNGEE MOUNT TYSON WILSONTON HEIGHTS Goombungee State School Mount Tyson State School Wilsonton High School GOWRIE JUNCTION NEWTOWN WYREEMA Gowrie State School Newtown State School Wyreema State School GREENMOUNT EAST OAKEY Emu Creek State School Oakey State High School

HARLAXTON PITTSWORTH Harlaxton State School Pittsworth Function Centre

You can check the accessibility rating and details of polling places at www.aec.gov.au/groom. For blind and low vision voting options call 13 23 26. Alternative versions of this guide How to make You can download alternative formats of this guide, such as audio and large print, from your vote count www.aec.gov.au/groom. Braille is also available on request by calling 13 23 26. For the Groom by-election you will be given a People who are deaf or have a hearing or speech green ballot paper. impairment can contact us through the National Relay Service (NRS): You will be voting for a representative for the federal electoral division of Groom in the House ■■ TTY users phone 13 36 77 and quote 13 23 26. of Representatives. ■■ Speak and Listen users phone 1300 555 727 and quote 13 23 26. Number every box in the order of your choice. ■■ Internet relay users connect to the NRS then ask Don’t worry if you make a mistake. You can for 13 23 26. ask for another ballot paper and start again. For information about voting and elections in other languages call the number listed next to your You can practise voting at preferred language. www.aec.gov.au/practise Arabic 1300 720 132 Cantonese 1300 720 135

House of Representatives O F Y F L Croatian 1300 720 136 I N Ballot Paper C I O A L U S E Greek 1300 720 137 State Electoral Division of Division Name Italian 1300 720 138 Number the boxes from 1 to 8 in the order of your choice Khmer 1300 720 134

SURNAME, Given Names Korean 1300 720 468 2 INDEPENDENT Macedonian 1300 720 139 SURNAME, Given Names 3 PARTY Mandarin 1300 720 142 SURNAME, Given Names 7 PARTY Polish 1300 720 143 SURNAME, Given Names Portuguese 1300 720 145 4 PARTY Russian 1300 720 146 SURNAME, Given Names 1 PARTY Serbian 1300 720 147 SURNAME, Given Names 5 PARTY Spanish 1300 720 148 SURNAME, Given Names Turkish 1300 720 149 6 PARTY Vietnamese 1300 720 152 SURNAME, Given Names 8 PARTY Other languages 1300 720 153

Voting is compulsory for Australian citizens Remember... number every box to make your vote count SAMPLE aged 18 years and older. If you don’t vote, you may be prosecuted. Sample ballot paper If you vote more than once it is a criminal offence.

www.aec.gov.au 13 23 26 20_1419 Authorised by the Electoral Commissioner, 10 Mort Street, Canberra