‘Hijacker, hypocrite’: Council spat erupts over newsletter

Claims council cash is being used for political gain has ignited a firey clash between the LNP and Labor as next year’s elections loom.

Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner has been accused of hijacking the council’s communications policy. Picture: Adam Head

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner has been sensationally accused of attempting to “hijack” Brisbane City Council’s communications for political gain, prompting Labor to demand tougher rules around self-promotion.

A four-page newsletter featuring Mr Schrinner promoting his budget highlights was distributed to non-LNP-held council wards, a move Labor opposition leader Jared Cassidy described as “childish”.

He claimed Mr Schrinner distributed the newsletter in areas where residents already received one from Labor councillors and declared it was sent to raise the lord mayor’s profile ahead of the March election.

“The lord mayor hijacks council’s corporate communications for his own political gain,” Mr Cassidy said. 

“In the lead up to an election he’s using ratepayer money to promote himself in wards not held by LNP councillors … I think it’s a waste of money.”

The Brisbane City Council budget newsletter sent to Brisbane residents

His calls were refuted by the Schrinner council, which accused Mr Cassidy of “rank hypocrisy” for sending similar newsletters.

Labor, which on Sunday named Tracey Price as its candidate for lord mayor, is pushing for a tougher code of conduct to be introduced detailing how councillors can communicate with residents.

Currently, councillors are able to distribute information using cash from ward offices, however

Mr Cassidy said the lord mayor could also use the council’s corporate communications team to spread a message.

“We would reiterate our calls for an advertising code of conduct which puts strict rules around what the lord mayor can and can’t do for self promotion,” he said.

Finance and city governance civic cabinet chair Fiona Cunningham said council-funded communications were governed by a longstanding policy.

“It’s rank hypocrisy for Labor to complain about standard council communications when their own newsletters are packed with selfies and personal pictures, including seven in Mr Cassidy’s 22/23 budget newsletter,” she said.

“No matter what part of Brisbane residents live in, they should be told about the initiatives being delivered to keep costs down while building the road, transport, parks, and playgrounds that Brisbane’s suburbs need.”

Jared Cassidy’s community news.

The existing policy notes it is “not in the public interest” to use council-funded materials to promote a political party or use “excessive” photos of elected representatives – with the council’s chief executive officer responsible for policing the policy.

Mr Cassidy acknowledged he and Labor councillors had also sent budget newsletters, but insisted his was “more factual” because it provided “a fair picture of what was in this year’s budget”.

Labor must reverse a 6 per cent two-party-preferred margin at next year’s elections if it is to end 20 years of LNP reign in city hall.