Queensland's electoral commissioner Walter van der Merwe has been suspended immediately by the state's Attorney-General over "serious allegations" which she says could amount to misbehaviour under the electoral act.
Attorney-General Yvette D'Ath said the unspecified allegations, while serious, "do not suggest inappropriate interference in the outcome of elections".
She said Mr van der Merwe had been advised, and would be issued a show cause notice.
A special meeting of executive council was convened on Monday to allow Ms D'Ath to also act on Monday.
"It's a show cause process and I will be providing the electoral commissioner with the allegations, and giving him adequate time to respond to those allegations before making a final decision," Ms D'Ath said.
"It is my decision, again recommending to Governor-in-Council whether misbehaviour has occurred and there should be a termination of his contract.
"The Governor has today approved my recommendation on all of the information that I have relied on to make my decision and that information was put before the Governor today in his consideration."
The current assistant electoral commissioner, Dermot Tiernan, will be acting commissioner.
Electoral Commission 'secretive and authoritarian'
A review of the 2016 local government elections, conducted by former Brisbane lord mayor Jim Soorley and tabled in State Parliament last June, described the Electoral Commission of Queensland (ECQ) as a secretive, authoritarian organisation with many management, communication and technology problems.
"There was a cavalier culture in the Electoral Commission — there were broken systems and poor management — that's a recipe for disaster," Mr Soorley said.
"The evidence collected points to a management style and culture that is secretive, authoritarian, silo-based and non-consultative."
Mr Soorley said the review panel was unable to meet with electoral commissioner Walter van der Merwe on his own, as he was always accompanied by the assistant commissioner, Mr Tiernan, who took the lead on responding to most issues.
"Their interactions and behaviour has the semblance of 'good cop, bad cop' management style," Mr Soorley said.
