This Q&A article is about body corporate communications and electronic voting during the Coronavirus crisis in QLD.
Question: Before proceeding to engage in electronic voting, does the body corporate need to call an EGM to approve electronic voting?
I understand that some bodies corporate have effectively dispensed with AGMs and are now simply advising owners to vote online or lodge voting papers by hand, mail or email.
Even in this COVID era, with social distancing etc., is it permissible to dispense with AGMs in this manner?
Also, The Body Corporate Commissioner (Qld) has recently reminded us (with COVID-19 in mind) that “You can encourage owners to submit voting papers instead of attending the meeting personally (or to vote electronically if your body corporate has approved electronic voting) if your body corporate has approved electronic voting”. This is, of course, a requirement under the BCCM Act BUT some bodies corporate may not have approved electronic voting.
Before proceeding to engage in electronic voting, should those who have not approved electronic voting now move to rectify that situation by way of an EGM?
Answer: It would seem unnecessary as such a motion could simply be included on the agenda of the next general meeting.
As is the case with a number of issues – whether a general meeting is valid or not depends on the specific circumstances. The primary theme adopted by adjudicators is whether an owner’s right to vote was prevented and if so, would it have affected the result of the meeting.
Owners have a statutory right to attend and participate in general meetings. During the peak of the COVID restrictions, there was more flexibility afforded to bodies corporate in interfering with these rights. As restrictions are being relaxed, so too would the flexibility of bodies corporate interfering with these participation rights.
A body corporate can certainly recommend that owners vote in advance of a meeting without any real risk of reprisal.
It is really a question for the committee to determine whether it is worth the costs of calling an EGM just to approve electronic voting for the next AGM. It would seem rather unnecessary though as such a motion could simply be included on the agenda of the next general meeting.
Todd Garsden
Mahoneys
E: [email protected]
P: 07 3007 3753
W: https://www.mahoneys.com.au/
This post appears in Strata News #379.
Have a question about communications and electronic voting in a QLD body corporate or something to add to the article? Leave a comment below.
Read next:
- NAT: Coronavirus & Strata – What Does the Legislation Say? Not Much
- NAT: Apartment Owners Ask: Do We Still Need To Hold Meetings In Person?
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Hello. For a general meeting I see you notes that 2 people must be present. We just did a meeting electronic voting only. Does that remove the need for 2 to be present?
Hi Maria
The following response has been provided by Chris Irons, Hynes Legal:
Legislative amendments specifically addressing this issue are expected very shortly. It’s hoped they will clarify what you say, beyond any doubt. For now, the situation is this:
– A body corporate can resolve to have voting happen electronically
– If people can’t meet in person due to COVID, then that has to be taken into account and can’t be ignored
– If no one has suffered any great detriment and people’s ability to vote wasn’t severely disadvantaged, it’s highly unlikely an adjudicator would invalidate a meeting on a ‘technicality’
Hopefully there’ll be a much more definitive answer on this very soon.
Good Morning,
I have wanted to ask this question and hope I have found a suitable place. We live in a 9 apartment complex and I am on the Body Corporate. My son and I are the only 2 ppl that use our external pool area as we moved from SA and this March/ April weather is so great in QLD. I’ll repeat that we are the only people that use the pool area.
Another owner recently placed a closed sign on the pool and noted due to Covid 19 Health directive we can be fined for using it. They never used the pool previously and my son and I are the only ones that use it.
I understand that the Gov has mandated public pools be closed which I understand. But I also read that it is up to the Body Corporate (which I am on) to decide on closure of ‘common spaces’ and act reasonably in the interest of all residents and lastly to communicate and proposals through the body corporate.
Do we have to close the pool as apartments are classed as ‘Residential’ and residential buildings are to ‘operate as normal’ whilst maintaining social distancing??
Any input will be greatly appreciated as water play was a great way to burn 2hrs now my son is at home with us!! Cheers
Hi Ryan
We covered this question generally here: NAT: Q&A Closing Strata Pool & Gym Because of Coronavirus (COVID-19) and in more detail specifically for Queensland in this section of our recent live event: NAT: COVID-19 Q&A Session: Strata Living With the Coronavirus Crisis – The closure of swimming pools and gyms.
We hope this information is helpful.
All the best.
I am appalled at the BCCM Commissioner’s reply to my concern about social distancing and the casual dismissal of my recommendation that during the pandemic period, all General Meetings be conducted solely by voting paper. I thought they got paid big bikkies for having nouse – sadly I seem to have been dreaming.
Their office attitude was “suck it up” we are not relaxing the rules even though the rest of Australia is taking drastic measures. Their advice was just that if you can’t form a quorum, adjourn the meeting for 7 days as is what happens under Legislation.
I emailed the Premier’s office about the BCCM attitude and got the usual courteous reply, they will look into it.
With Chris Irons working with you, perhaps he could have a word with the Acting BCCM Commissioner and explain in plain English that they are not a dictatorship and must fall in line with the edicts of the Australian Gov’t, one of which is that gatherings will be restricted to 2 people. They are also thumbing their nose at the Qld. Senior Health Officer.
They should realise that Bodies Corporate want to get their AGMs over with ASAP and don’t want a 7 day adjournment, and with a stroke of the pen, the BCCM Acting Commissioner could allow voting paper only meetings for the duration of the pandemic.
Regards,
Bruce Veale
A Body Corporate Chairman & ex BCM.
If a Committee meeting is to be held by teleconference because of COVID-19, presumably any owner is entitled to listen in as if they were attending a face-to-face meeting.
This query has now been addressed on this post: QLD: Q&A Teleconference Committee Meetings. Can Lot Owners Listen?
I am logged in but cannot find out how to download a pdf of this article.
Hi TonyP
We are having issues with PDFs at the moment. We have a development team looking at a fix. I will email you through a PDF of this article as soon as it is available.
All the best!