Election Results Notice
CPSU elections for 2024-2026 positions are closed. Under Regulation 141(4) of the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Regulations 2009 the CPSU is required to publish a notice on its website advising members that a copy of the Post Election Report is available upon request. The Post Election Report can be accessed here, or from the sidebar resources menu.
Details of 2023 CPSU Election
All CPSU members are encouraged to get involved and have a say in choosing their union's leadership.
All members eligible to vote in the CPSU election should now have received their voting papers.
If you have not yet received your voting papers, please contact the AEC to request a replacement pack: phone (03) 9285 7111 or email: [email protected].
Ballot timetable
Where a ballot is required, the AEC will send ballot papers to all eligible members in the electorate who were financial as at 30 August 2023.
To have your say, your completed voting papers need to be returned using the declaration and reply-paid envelopes. Completed papers must be received by the AEC by 10am (AEDT) on Wednesday, 6 December 2023.
Didn’t get a ballot paper?
The Australian Electoral Commission is responsible for posting ballot papers. Ballot packs have been mailed to the address registered with the union. Please allow 10 calendar days for receipt. If you have not yet received your ballot, you can call the AEC on (03) 9285 7111 or email [email protected] to request a replacement pack.
About CPSU elections
CPSU elections are conducted by the AEC in accordance with the CPSU PSU Group Rules.
Jackie McHenry is the AEC Returning Officer who can be reached on (03) 9285 7111 or email: [email protected].
Term length
All positions run from 1 January 2024 until 31 December 2026.
Nominations
Nominations opened on Wednesday, 6 September 2023 for CPSU positions, including National Officer, Section Secretary, Governing Councillor, Section Officer and Section Councillor. Nominations close 12 noon (AEST) Wednesday, 27 September 2023 at the office or postal address of the Returning Officer.
Please see the Election Notice for the list of positions that were open for nomination and to find out which positions you are eligible to nominate for.
Timetable
- Nominations open Wednesday, 6 September 2023.
- Nominations close 12.00 noon (AEST) on Wednesday, 27 September 2023 at the office or postal address of the Returning Officer.
About the positions
Under the union’s rules, the National Secretary is responsible for protecting the interests of members and the union and for the administration and operation of the union, including governance, compliance with relevant legislation and implementing the decisions of the Governing Council. The Assistant National Secretary acts as National Secretary in their absence and with other National Officers is responsible for rendering assistance to the National Secretary in their duties. In practice, this means they lead the union’s efforts in a particular membership area or take responsibility for various whole of union specialist areas of work.
Section Secretaries and Governing Councillors represent their section of the union on the Governing Council, as the supreme governing body of the union and assist the relevant National Officers to manage the affairs of their section. In practice, this generally means they work with a national team of delegates, often through a Section Council structure, help build and promote the union in their work area, represent members and engage with employers, working with union officials and staff. Section Councillors assist in this work, representing members in a state or particular work area on their Section Council.
Who can nominate?
Nominations were open to all financial members eligible to stand in the particular electorate. Check the Election Notice to find out which positions you are eligible to nominate for.
How do members nominate?
Nominations must be lodged via the following method(s):
- By Portal: Australian Electoral Commission Portal
- By Email: A properly completed nomination form including all necessary signatures and attachments may be scanned and submitted as a pdf file to [email protected] .The subject line for the email should read: “E2023/112 CPSU – PSU – [SECTION] Nomination [Insert name]”
Team Nominations
A group of eligible members may run as a team for National Officers in accordance with rule 3.7. Each candidate must complete a nomination form for the office they seek. A team must also submit a team proposal form. A team must include a member for each National Officer position for which nominations have been called.
Copying or inspecting the roll of voters
A candidate or member may inspect or obtain a copy of the roll of voters directly from the AEC Returning Officer. The CPSU will not provide membership lists for election purposes to candidates. The AEC will provide voter rolls as per the CPSU’s Rules.
Candidate statements for AEC publication with the ballot paper
For positions on the Governing Council (National Office, Section Secretary, Governing Councillor and Section President elected from a section with more than 1,000 members), candidates may lodge a written statement of not more than 250 words in support of their candidature. The statement may only include personal details, employment history, policy details and the candidate's claims for election and may not include any photos, pictures or diagrams.
Please submit your statement to the Returning Officer as a word document (.doc) either by email or on a CD no later than 12:00 noon (AEDT) on Wednesday, 11 October 2023.
Candidate statements for CPSU publication as per Rule 3.23
Where there is more than one nomination for a National Officer position or any position on Governing Council (Section Secretary, Governing Councillor and Section President elected from a section with more than 1,000 members), candidates can submit a 250 word statement and a photo of themselves in support of their nomination which will be published on the CPSU website and/or other CPSU publications.
What can the candidate statement for publication by the CPSU contain?
In respect of the statement published by the CPSU, the statement may only include personal details, employment history, policy details and the candidate’s claims for election. It should be truthful, accurate and free from defamatory or discriminatory statements. It cannot include diagrams or pictures (except that candidates for National Officer or a position on Governing Council may include a candidate photo). Statements must be received by the CPSU no later than 5pm Wednesday, 11 October 2023 to:
What about comments on other candidates for CPSU publication?
If candidates comment about any other candidate in their statement for publication by the CPSU, the CPSU is obligated not to publish the statement without providing that person a right of reply, as per the following rule 3.23(c):
If any item submitted for publication in an edition of any official PSU Group publication published between the calling of nominations in an election and the closing date for voting in the election comments on any other candidate directly or indirectly that article shall not be accepted for publication unless:
- a copy of the item is sent to the candidate or candidates commented on in the article at least 7 days prior to the closing date for acceptance of items for the publication; and
- the candidate or candidates commented on are given reasonable space to reply in the same publication in which the original comment is published.
Declaration of Results 2023 elections