ERROL PARKER | Editor-at-large | Contact
Queensland Police have issued a stark warning to polling stations about the illegal sale of “gourmet” democracy sausages.
Under state law, anything beyond the mass produced supermarket BBQ sausage, with a maximum beef content of 20%, in white bread is not permitted and could see violators facing fines or even jail time.
Condiments such as caramelised onion (must be caramelised using XXXX Gold), tomato and barbecue sausage are allowed under the legislation. Within the Brisbane City Council, American mustard has been decriminalised.
While other less developed parts of the continent like New South Wales and Victoria have grown more lenient, allowing everything from artisanal bratwursts to organic lamb sausages, Queensland authorities aren’t budging.
“This isn’t Melbourne,” said Sergeant Les Tanner outside Betoota Heights’ Green Street State School polling station, eyeing a platter of confiscated brioche buns.
“In Queensland, the law is simple. A beef, plain white bread, onion and sauce. No aioli, no avocado, and definitely no brioche.”
Local volunteer Barb Milton, who’d prepared a tray of “locally sourced” gourmet snags, was forced to return to the basics.
“We thought we’d spice things up a bit,” she lamented, stacking up slices of Wonder White.
“But we’re not in the French Quarter, are we? They’re probably eating fake meat sausages and smoking hoota. Bless them.”
Sergeant Tanner reiterated that Queensland’s approach keeps the focus on democracy, not decadence.
“Police will be out in force to make sure polling centres are complying.”
More to come.
