The Rules of the Queensland Nurses' Union of Employees and Professional Indemnity Insurance

19 Council

(a) The affairs of the Union shall be managed by a Council which, subject to these Rules, shall be the highest deliberative body of the Union.

(b) Notwithstanding anything contained elsewhere in these Rules, the Council shall consist of:

(i) the President, Vice President, Secretary and Assistant Secretary;

(ii) four executive members (hereinafter referred to as “the executive members”); and

(iii) such number of other members, no fewer than five or more than twenty as determined by Council – all of whom shall be elected in accordance with these Rules.

(c) The President and all officers (except the Secretary and Assistant Secretary) and all members of the Council shall hold office for a term of two years and shall be eligible for re-election for a further term or terms of two years each.

(d) At the end of each two year period all positions (other than that of Secretary and Assistant Secretary) shall be declared vacant.

(e) Except as hereinafter provided the Secretary and Assistant Secretary shall hold office for a term of four years, and shall be eligible for re-election for a further term or terms of four years each.

(f) Elections for officers and members of the Council (other than Secretary and Assistant Secretary) shall be conducted between the first day of September and the thirtieth day of October in each alternate year provided that the Returning Officer may call for nominations prior to the first day of September in each year of such an election.

(g) Elections for the position of Secretary and Assistant Secretary shall be conducted between the first day of September and the thirtieth day of October every fourth year provided that the Returning Officer may call for nominations prior to the first day of September in each year of such an election.

(h) Elections shall be conducted by the Returning Officer appointed pursuant to Rule 37.

(i) Elections shall be by secret ballot.

(j)  In elections to fill the office of Secretary, Assistant Secretary, President, Vice President, Executive member and Councillor in accordance with these Rules, each candidate may, not later than five working days later than the time fixed in accordance with these Rules for the close of nominations, submit to the Returning Officer a statement (together with a photograph of candidate if desired) in support of the candidature. Such statement shall not exceed two hundred words. The Returning Officer shall reject any statement or photograph which does not comply with this Rule and may reject any statement or photograph the publication of which may be defamatory or in breach of the law. A candidate whose statement or photograph is rejected shall be given not more than ten days from the close of nominations to supply a replacement statement or photograph. The Returning Officer shall include with the ballot paper delivered to each voter a copy of the statement and photograph printed in relation to each candidate. Where no statement or photograph has been submitted to the Returning Officer by a candidate the Returning Officer shall indicate this on a separate sheet which shall be delivered with each ballot paper.

(k) The successful candidates in those elections shall assume office no later than six (6) weeks after the declaration of the ballot.

(l) (i) Notwithstanding anything contained in Rules 19, 37 and 38 or any other rule, the elections for offices in the Australian Nursing Federation Queensland Branch will occur at the same time as elections for officers in the Union.

(ii) The Returning Officer appointed pursuant to Rule 37 shall to the fullest extent practicable conduct the elections required by these rules in conjunction with elections being or to be conducted in the Australian Nursing Federation Queensland Branch.