Pharmacy Daily | Guild election turnout was just 37.6%

FEWER than two in every five eligible Pharmacy Guild of Australia members cast a ballot in the second stage of the organisation's elections, data from the Australian Electoral Commission reveals.

Of 2,377 members just 37.6% cast votes for candidates standing for branch committee posts in the NT, NSW, South Australia and Victoria.

The NT branch recorded the highest percentage turnout with two in every three members casting a vote in a tight race for the presidency won by Peter Hatwell ahead of Travis Lindsay (PD 19 Feb).

In NSW 45% of voters engaged in the election, returning Branch President, David Heffernan, with 59% of the ballot, ahead of Paul Jones (30%) and Tim Hewitt (11%).

Roughly 43% of NSW Guild members cast votes for the branch's three Vice President posts - Judith Plunkett (20%), Adele Tahan (19.5%) and Catherine Bronger (18.5%) - and the two National Councillor roles - Plunkett (27.5%) and Tahan (25%).

Victorian voters were most concerned about who would join Branch President, Anthony Tassone, on the National Council, with 37% of members voting in the race between Paul Krassaris and Grace Li Na Chong - won by Krassaris.

Krassaris (28%) and Chong (23%) were elected as Branch Vice Presidents alongside Marylin Tsitonakis (19%), with 311 of 886 members casting a ballot (35%).

Chong and Tsitonakis were elected as Alternative National Councillors for the Victorian Branch.

With one-in-three eligible voters from South Australia casting their ballot in the Branch election, Paul Simmons (30%), Gregory Scarlett (29%) and Marc Apolloni (27%) were appointed as Vice Presidents.

Scarlett took the Branch's National Council position, claiming 49% of the vote, with Rabia Kajani (36%) and Matthew Gillespie (32%) winning the right to be the State's two Alternative National Councillors.

The incoming Guild National Council will feature: Simon Blacker (ACT); Peter Hatwell (NT); David Heffernan, Judith Plunkett and Adele Tahan (NSW); Trent Twomey and Chris Owen (Qld); Nick Panayiaris and Gregory Scarlett (SA); Helen O'Byrne and John Dowling (Tas); Anthony Tassone and Paul Krassaris (Vic); and Andrew Ngeow and Natalie Willis (WA).

The election process for the National President will begin on 25 Feb, with a result due by either 18 Mar or 28 Apr depending on the number of nominations made.