QLD: Can an owner withdraw a motion submitted for a body corporate general meeting?

Question: If an owner has submitted a motion for a general meeting, can they withdraw it before it’s voted on?

Answer: Yes, an owner can withdraw a motion submitted for a general meeting, and they should make the withdrawal in writing.

Yes. The legislation is silent as to whether an owner can withdraw a motion they have submitted for consideration at a general meeting. However, it has been consistently held by Adjudicators in the Office of the Commissioner for Body Corporate and Community Management that the statutory right of a person to submit a motion inherently includes the right to withdraw the motion before it is voted on at the relevant general meeting.

In practice, this is a relatively common occurrence. It has been determined that, just as a motion must be submitted in writing, it should also be withdrawn in writing. If an owner withdraws a motion before the meeting notice is issued, the motion would be omitted from the relevant notice. Alternatively, if the motion is withdrawn after the meeting notice is issued, the chair should announce to the meeting that the motion has been withdrawn and move on to the next motion on the agenda.

This post appears in the July 2026 edition of The QLD Strata Magazine.

Alanna Law
Mathews Hunt Legal
E: alanna.law@mathewshuntlegal.com.au
P: 07 5555 8000