Redland City Elections get nasty – Redlands2030 Opinion

Security guard keeping the peace at the Victoria Point Early Voting Centre

The Redland City Elections set a new low standard of bad behaviour in Queensland with all candidates receiving this week a written warning.

Security guards are now in place at Redland City’s early voting centres and are expected to be at polling booths on Election Day, Saturday 16 March.

Because local council’s are responsible for their election costs it’s likely that the extra bill for hiring security guards will be met by Redland City long suffering ratepayers.

It’s likely that about 40% of the electorate will have voted by the end of early voting at 6:00pm today which would mean that most voters will have their say tomorrow.

If poll results are clear cut, then we may know who has been elected late Saturday night and one of the mayoral candidates can start partying.

But whoever is elected, they won’t be sworn into office until the Declaration of Poll scheduled for Monday 8 April at 10:30am.

Update 6:26pm: Supreme Court injunction

Mayoral candidate Jos Mitchell today won a Supreme Court injunction that requires Andrew Laming to desist from using certain untrue election material.

Andrew Laming said, on his Facebook page: “The Court has granted an Injunction to remove disputed signage and not use in future. We have complied and respect the result”.

Redland City Elections spending

During the final seven working days of polling candidates are required to report any electoral expenditure within 24 hours.

So we can update our earlier report and advise that the total spend by all candidates for the Redland City Elections is now about $300,000.

In recent days most of the spending has been done by Andrew Laming and the Jos Mitchell Leading Change Group.

Real time expenditure reporting shows us that Andrew Laming spent $ 700 on 50 metres of banner mesh on 8 March 2024.

A few days latter illegally placed banner mesh was being removed from the Redlands Research Facility on the corner of Finucane Road and Delancey Street.

The mayoral candidates

Here are our thoughts about candidates for Mayor in the Redland City Elections.

Jos Mitchell

• Campaigned hard for over a year meeting with people in the community and listening to their concerns.
• Supports increased transparency and improved community engagement
• Opposes vanity projects such as the Birkdale whitewater Olympic stadium.
• Not a supporter of the Toondah proposal
• Work experience includes being a police officer and a Council manager.

Andrew Laming

• A long record of attention seeking behaviour
• Delivered very little for his electorate while an long serving MP
• Federal Court affirmed that he owes taxpayers $10,360.05 for travel expenses
• His campaign is largely about State Government issues e.g. crime, hospitals
• Has been a long term supporter of the Toondah proposal
• Reported to want a 5-star hotel built on the site of Point Lookout Surf Club
• Guilty of Federal electoral offences for running fake Facebook pages

Cindy Corrie

• Strong supporter of the Toondah proposal, part of her “$7 billion pipeline”
• Also supports plans for the Birkdale whitewater Olympic stadium
• Proponent of increased housing density
• Appears to be happy with the Council’s current rates and charges
• Obvious choice for people who want little change from Karen Williams

Redlands2030 – 15 March 2024

Authorised Steve MacDonald, 104 Channel Street, Cleveland, QLD 4163