Revealed: Whitsunday councillors on race for mayor

From business identities, councillors to political candidates, the race for who will take the Whitsunday mayor’s seat is heating up. Six people have declared their intentions to run, each with different platforms. Meet them here.

The fight for who will lead the Whitsundays after Andrew Willcox won the federal Dawson seat is heating up.

Four people have so far indicated their intentions to run for the empty mayoral position, vacated on Mr Willcox’s resignation.

A by-election will be called after the Australian Electoral College officially declares the result for Mr Willcox.

At that point, the Electoral Commission of Queensland states the vacancy must be filled within eight weeks, meaning candidate nominations, the election period and election day must be completed within that time frame.

Even though the race has not yet officially begun, three sitting Whitsunday councillors and at least one member of the public have already thrown their hat into the ring.

Here is an initial list of who is in and who is out.

We will add to the list as the race heats up.

Councillor Jan Clifford (Division 1) – Yes

Mrs Clifford says she wants to attract new business and industry to the region and fix the “atrocious shortage” of affordable housing in the Whitsundays.

She said families, including children, were sleeping in cars because of the region’s housing problems.

“We’re supposed to be a first-world country not a third-world country,” she said.

Councillor Jan Clifford

“I just want to see everybody get a fair go.”

Mrs Clifford said she had been thinking about a tilt for mayor since Mr Willcox nominated for federal politics.

“I think I’ve earned my stripes,” she said.

Councillor Al Grundy (Division 2) – Yes

Mr Grundy said he was “going to have a go.”

“My kids said, ‘Dad, go for it’,” he said.

“I’m not by any means a career politician.

“I come with a pretty extensive business background.”

Before serving with the council, Mr Grundy worked in the tourism sector, taking guests on sailing tours of the Whitsundays.

Al Grundy said he would look for greater efficiencies at the council if elected mayor. Picture: GW3

He also spent three years as the chairman of Tourism Whitsundays and he said this experience at the head of a board had prepared him well for the mayor’s role.

If elected, he said he would push the council to “engage” more with the community and search for efficiencies by “running a commercial eye” over the organisation.

“We sit on a pot of natural gold and we haven’t realised yet how to mine it,” he said, highlighting the Whitsundays’ islands, reefs, beaches, hinterland, resources and people.

“We’re really in a great position.

“There’s so much untapped potential.”

Councillor John Collins (Division 3) – No

Mr Collins said “definitely not” when asked if he would run for mayor.

Councillor Michelle Wright (Division 4) – No

Mrs Wright said “at this stage, no” when asked whether she would run for mayor.

Councillor Gary Simpson (Division 5) – No

Mr Simpson said he would not run for mayor.

“The timing is just not right,” he said.

Councillor Mike Brunker (Division 6) – Yes

Mr Brunker is in the race.

“I’ve been around local government for 22 years,” he said.

“I’ve still got a lot to contribute.”

Mr Brunker said attracting more economic development to the Whitsundays and “getting back to basics” formed the core of his vision.

“We’ve had a good run with our big building projects and now it’s a matter of getting back to roads, rates and rubbish,” he said.

“It’s still basically jobs, jobs, jobs.

“We’ve got to be in for our fair share.”

Peter J Hood – Yes

A member of the public, Mr Hood has been campaigning for the position since March 2021.

Phil Batty

Experienced hospitality manager Phil Batty is running for mayor.

He says he wants to transform how Whitsunday towns like Airlie Beach position themselves in the world.

“I love the place, but it thinks like a small town and it needs to think like a major regional hub,” he said.

Mr Batty has gained some prominence as a firm opponent of the proposed Port of Airlie development, but says he supports development “with community support for the right location”.

If elected mayor, Mr Batty said he would address the cost-of-living and housing crisis engulfing the Whitsundays.

“It is very difficult to live and work in the Whitsundays for people that are on minimum wage,” he said.

“Rental accommodation is very scarce and it’s very expensive.

“We need to address that.”

He also said he would address the state of the Whitsunday Coast Airport and Proserpine Entertainment Centre.

“You find a way and I think that’s the attitude I’m going to bring to council,” he said.

“We find a way to make it happen and we do it in a very open, transparent way.

“If I say something, that’s what I mean.

“I don’t say things for political gain.”

Julie Hall

Former Dawson One Nation candidate Julie Hall says she intends to run for mayor.

She says her experience in business and management makes her an ideal candidate for local government.

If elected mayor, she said she would look to reevaluate the power and influence of the CEO on the council.

“It seems to be very CEO and planning led,” she said.

She added she would make the council more responsive to community sentiment.

“People don’t seem to have a say anymore,” she said.

“We need community consultation and we are not getting community consultation.

“Let’s find out what the people want.”

She raised the case of the CEO’s proposal for a full postal vote as an example of what she considered a lack of proper consultation.

“Where were the people consulted?” she asked.

“I want more public consultation about decisions that affect everyone in that area.”