Shayne Sutton announced her intention to retire as the Councillor for Morningside Ward on Monday 23 October 2017, saying she would stay on "until the state election", assuming the election would be at the start of 2018 and that the by-election could coincide, however, just six days later, Queensland premierAnnastacia Palaszczuk called the election for 25 November 2017.[2]
The Electoral Commission of Queensland announced on 2 November 2017, that the By-Election would take place on 20 January 2018.[3]