The Electoral Commission of Queensland (ECQ) is a secretive, authoritarian organisation with many management, communication and technology problems, according to a review of the 2016 local government elections.

The inquiry report, tabled in State Parliament, made 74 recommendations to urgently overhaul the ECQ before the next state election, which is expected within six to eight months.

The review into the council elections, the four-year terms referendum and Toowoomba South by-election was ordered in response to a large number of complaints about the conduct of the polls, pre-poll voting, counting and communication.

Chaired by former Brisbane Lord Mayor Jim Soorley, the report recommended that council elections be moved from March to October or November, and that the ECQ urgently appoint a full-time chief information officer and invest in technology.

Mr Soorley said there was a litany of problems, "related to technology, communication, the postal voting system, the roles and management of Returning Officers, staffing numbers, training of staff and the organisation of the ballot process on the ground".

He said many people did not get to vote and the vote count was slow.

"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.

"We're lucky the last election wasn't a disaster, but going forward it could be."

He said the ECQ's own internal review "glossed over many issues and problems within the organisation".

"The evidence collected points to a management style and culture that is secretive, authoritarian, silo-based and non-consultative," Mr Soorley said.

"Senior management staff often did not attend, or would leave early from, important meetings regarding election issues and planning."

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 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.

Complaints not enough to warrant court action: ECQ commissioner

Attorney-General Yvette D'Ath said most of the recommendations were operational matters for the independent ECQ, which she said had supported or agreed to consider the report findings.

"These issues go to the heart of a free and fair democracy and as such are taken very seriously by the Palaszczuk Government, demonstrably committed to openness and transparency," Ms D'Ath said.

"I look forward to further discussion of the issues identified in this report.

"The commissioner's response indicates that the ECQ either supports or agrees to consider most of the recommendations ahead of the 2020 local government elections."

In his response, Mr van der Merwe said none of the complaints were serious enough for court action.

"I am extremely proud of commission staff who delivered these results without receiving any complaints of substance or worthy of consideration for referral to the Court of Disputed Returns," Mr van der Merwe said.

"As a result, all local governments were provided with electoral services that provided certainty for their constituents and was delivered without imposing significant costs to ratepayers.

"As you will see from my responses to the panel's recommendations, the commission has already begun implementation of some of the recommendations."

Some recommendations would require policy or law changes she said, but none were critical for the state election.

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