Voting instructions and candidate statements for Flinders Council.
Voting is compulsory. Your vote must be received by 2pm on Tuesday 27 October 2026
Don’t delay – late votes won’t be counted!
There are 2 elections being held for Flinders Council:
As well as this booklet, your postal ballot pack contains:
Your ballot paper envelope is designed to keep your identity separate from your vote.
Successful candidates for mayor and deputy mayor must also be elected as councillors to be able to accept these offices. The elected councillors, mayor and deputy mayor will serve until October 2030.
Questions? Call 1800 801 701.
Postal services take a number of days, so it is important to complete and return your vote now.
Your vote must be received by 2pm on Tuesday 27 October 2026.
Don’t delay, late votes can’t be counted. Failure to vote may incur a fine.
Follow these five easy steps:
Candidates were invited to provide a statement and photo for your consideration. Statements are reproduced here as provided by the candidate.
Statements appear in alphabetical order but the order of names on ballot papers is rotated.
Number the boxes on each ballot paper from 1 onwards in the order of your choice.
For the election of 7 councillors, number the boxes from 1 to 8 in order of your choice. Number at least 5 boxes to make your vote count.
For the election of mayor, number the boxes 1 and 2 in order of your choice. Number at least one box to make your vote count.
Put your completed ballot papers in the ballot paper envelope, which is the smaller envelope with the wider flap, and seal it securely.
Sign your ballot paper envelope in the box on the flap to declare that you are the voter named on this envelope and you have voted on the ballot papers in this envelope. You must sign the envelope and leave the flap attached — or your vote won’t be counted. The returning officer will remove the flap with your details on it before opening the envelope.
Then put your ballot paper envelope in the reply-paid envelope — the larger envelope — and seal it.
Post your reply paid envelope straight away (no stamp needed), or take your vote to the Flinders Council office.
I am standing for Mayor and Council because I believe it is time to focus on the basics and deliver. Roads, rubbish, essential services and existing assets should be priorities. I want accountability for how community money is spent, projects delivered on time and promises followed through. Having lived and worked in several countries, studied hotel management and run my own businesses, I bring a broad perspective. Through my work on Flinders Island, I have listened to many community members and understand what residents, businesses and visitors need. I value straight answers and practical act
No candidate statement.
My name is Aaron Burke. I am a local primary producer and contractor. I was honoured to be voted in as Councillor for the last 8 years. During this time our Council has worked well for the community. Some challenges currently facing our Community is aged care facilities, freight, travel, condition of our State Growth main roads and a more user friendly planning scheme. I fight for our community and what I believe in.
As Deputy Mayor for the past four years, I am proud of Council’s work on the Lady Barron Boating Facility, FAEC kitchen and new vet facility. I'm seventh-generation Islander and local beef producer, I understand the pressures of freight, rising costs, housing and childcare. I remain concerned about older residents having to leave the island for care, and I support stronger funding for small councils so communities like ours can continue to provide essential services. I am standing again and ask for your support for Councillor and Deputy Mayor.
As a professional geologist, data scientist and business owner, I bring a practical perspective on water security, infrastructure planning and using technology to solve problems. On the Furneaux Historical Research Association committee, I am passionate about preserving and sharing our history. My priorities for Council are practical greywater reform, delivery of an Island-wide wastewater solution, reuse and resource recovery, and reforms that make it easier and cheaper to live, work and build here. As a councillor, I will advocate for transparent decisions and genuine community input.
Hello. Some of you may know me as the Martial Arts teacher on the Island. Others as the builder who managed the construction of the Community Shed. Still others as an academic. I believe that my skills in communication, critical thinking and management will be of service to Flinders Island residents, should I be elected to council. Our island faces challenges including housing, our airport and vet services. I would bring a fair but critical voice to discussions to ensure that all views are heard and critically examined before decisions are made. Thank you.
I have lived on Flinders Island since 2006 and served on Flinders Council from 2014 to 2018 and 2022 to 2026. I am an active community member through the Lions Club, Community Shed, RSL, FIPNI and Aero Club. I bring experience in banking, aviation and hospitality. If elected I will focus on financial management, affordable housing, health, aged care and environmental protection. Having run several businesses, I am now retired and committed to serving the Furneaux Group community and preserving our cherished Islands lifestyle, history, and culture so unique to us.
For the past four years I have had the privilege of serving our community as Mayor. I have tried to represent our islands by showing up, doing the work, listening, learning and making informed decisions. I am proud of what Council and our community have achieved, including major infrastructure projects and progress on housing, our airport and essential services. There is still plenty to do, and I hope to continue serving for another term, helping to keep our islands a great place to live, work and call home.
The Tasmanian Electoral Commission (TEC) publishes candidate statements and photographs under section 284 of the Local Government Act 1993. It does so in line with published requirements determined by the Commission, which apply equally to all candidates.
Statements and photographs are optional and must meet the published requirements for inclusion. Each candidate is allocated the same amount of space, whether or not a statement or photograph appears.
Statements are the candidates’ own words, and they are responsible for their content and accuracy. The TEC does not verify factual claims or endorse what a candidate says.
The TEC makes only limited, standard changes needed for consistent publication of candidate statements and photographs. It does not otherwise correct, rewrite or alter a candidate statement, or change a candidate’s appearance.
If a statement or photograph does not meet the approved requirements for publication, the TEC contacts the candidate and, where publication timelines allow, gives them one opportunity to provide a replacement.