Southport candidate Samantha Delmege obstructs journalist after verbal dispute with angry man

A Gold Coast council candidate has blocked a journalist videoing her heated exchange at a pre-poll booth. WATCH THE VIDEO

A Gold Coast council candidate for key seat Southport has obstructed a journalist videoing her heated exchange at a pre-poll booth, later admitting “I probably should have let him keep filming”.

Division 6 candidate Samantha Delmege on Wednesday used campaign material she was holding to block the mobile phone camera of Gold Coast Bulletin journalist Mohammad Alfares, telling him “go away”.

Asked on Thursday about her behaviour at the Southport pre-poll booth and whether she regretted it, she replied: “Why was I obstructing? He was standing in an inappropriate position holding up voters while trying to film.

“I don’t regret doing it no, as people want to move along the line quick and not be held up, so I was helping those in line.”

Mr Alfares disputes there was a queue.

At the time, she was being verbally berated by a member of the public at the Lawson Street booth.

The irritated voter had confronted Ms Delmege about campaign corflutes claiming they were on his private property without consent.

Asked if he knew all the candidates before voting, the man told the Bulletin: “I know one in particular who put some corflutes outside my private property without my consent.

“I’m very upset with the woman Delmege,” he said.

“If she asked me, I would’ve said yes but she didn’t - she just put them there.”

When he approached Ms Delmege to discuss it, the Bulletin’s Mr Alfares started filming.

An elated Samantha Delmege after getting 1st position on the draw. Picture Glenn Hampson

An assistant to Ms Delmege is initially heard yelling “don’t” at Mr Alfares repeatedly.

Ms Delmege was then filmed telling him to “go away” as she obstructed his recording camera with her pamphlets.

The man complaining about the corflutes later said Ms Delmege apologised.

Ms Delmege added: “I was approached by an owner about putting signs up on his property. This is my first campaign so I’m learning.

“I apologised and the man walked away after sharing some points with me about candidates who pay for prime position for signage which is absolutely something I am against. So I’m not really sure why your journalist was filming but I guess he would have missed that point so I probably should have let him keep filming. It was more to move the line along as he was holding the queue up.”

Her obstruction comes after mayoral candidate Danielle Dunsmore gave the middle finger to Bulletin editor Ryan Keen on stage during a Central Chamber of Commerce election debate last week. It came when she was asked for her vision of the legacy of a 2032 Olympics Gold Coast athletes’ village, and said she wasn’t “100 per cent across the Olympics”. It prompted Mr Keen to remark “strong finish”.

Ms Dunsmore later said Mr Keen “deserved it” but added flipping the bird was “not my finest moment”.

Asked on Thursday if candidates needed an attitude adjustment, Ms Delmege said: “I’ve had a bit of mud thrown at me from one of my opponents but I just keep being positive about what I want for the community - that’s all I‘ve been focused on ”.

Southport incumbent Brooke Patterson said she was aware of the incident but refused to comment.

“I’m very grateful for the many businesses and residents who have offered for me to have our signs on their land,” she said.

Mayor Tom Tate has called for the state government to increase the fee for mayoral candidates to force “unserious” contenders out of the race.

Originally published as Southport candidate Samantha Delmege obstructs journalist after verbal dispute with angry man