Opinion: Lacklustre lord mayoral campaign finally gets some colour

The campaign for Brisbane’s top job has been lacklustre, but Thursday’s debate added the colour most voters are craving, writes Paul Williams.

Brisbane lord mayoral candidates Jonathan Sriranganathan (Greens), Tracey Price (Labor) and incumbent Adrian Schrinner (LNP). Picture: John Gass

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Thursday’s lord mayoral debate stood in stark contrast to the Brisbane City Council campaign so far.

The campaign for Brisbane’s top job has been lacklustre. But Thursday’s debate added the colour most voters are craving.

The debate itself delivered no knockout blows, and seemed to confirm what we already know. Labor’s Tracey Price spoke with an assertive but somewhat mechanical delivery which underscored her lack of experience. But she made much of that inexperience – she’s no career politician – and reminded us she’s the only woman running for lord mayor.

Price is passionate about waste disposal and public transport, and especially angry at what she sees as a wasteful LNP self-promotion budget. While feisty and engaging, Price lacked the policy detail these debates demand.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner was, by contrast, smooth and measured and showed yet again that he performs far better on the stump than on television.

His opening theme, “optimism and vision”, was a little glib for a city still smarting from a cost-of-living crisis.

But he rescued himself with his intention – but not promise – to keep council rates at, or below, inflation.

No one was surprised Schrinner dodged his recent budget cuts, but many were wondering why Labor and the Greens failed to exploit it.

Greens candidate Jonathon Sriranganathan always promises a spectacle and didn’t disappoint.

The unconventional Sriranganathan took the debate beyond roads, rates and rubbish.

Instead, he highlighted not only on the city’s housing crisis but an alleged corruption of the political system itself, especially the alleged influence of property developers.

Sriranganathan’s pitch was intelligent and impressive, but this deep-Green candidate, in proposing to acquire the iconic Eagle Farm racetrack for public housing, took a step too far.

The winner? In terms of passion and headline-making, Sriranganathan took the lead.

In terms of polish and cost of living (that is, rates), Schrinner prevailed.

For sheer guts as an inexperienced candidate with little money, Price is to be commended.

Will the debate make a difference? Probably not.

Schrinner will be returned as lord mayor despite a sizeable swing.

The Greens will win a couple of wards from the LNP and register their highest mayoral vote. And Labor will quietly lick its wounds ahead of an October state election.

Paul Williams is an associate professor at Griffith University