Brisbane Council election candidate Kate Richards in court over flyers

The LNP has launched legal action against one of its former councillors, who is now running as an independent, over an issue with her election material.

Pullenvale Ward councillor Kate Richards, a former member of the LNP who is now running as an independent.

THE LNP has launched legal action in a bid to stop an independent Brisbane councillor from using election materials that feature a picture of Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner.

Pullenvale Ward councillor Kate Richards, a former member of the LNP who is now running as an independent, has defended the flyers – insisting they did not refer to the party.

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One of the flyers her campaign had used urged voters to vote 1 for her, and included a picture of Cr Schrinner and Deputy Mayor Krista Adams, as well as quotes from both of them.

It was blue, white and yellow in colouring.

The LNP has confirmed they will challenge the materials in court today.

But Cr Richards insisted the flyers were election material and not official How to Vote Cards and did not refer to the Liberal National Party, “notate any association with the said party” or endorse them.

She said the ECQ told her the material was not technically a How to Vote Card, as it did not preference other candidates, and she could distribute it freely.

Pullenvale Ward councillor Kate Richards, a former member of the LNP who is now running as an independent.

“I am freely advising constituents to Vote 1 Kate Richards and Vote 1 Adrian Schrinner for Lord Mayor as I believe Mr Adrian Schrinner is the best choice out of all the Lord Mayor candidates for the constituency of Pullenvale Ward,” she said.

She said the Lord Mayor’s image was in the public realm and Labor and the Greens were also using it in their election advertising.

“The colours aren’t theirs (The LNP’s). Brisbane City Council uses those colours, (Independent Councillor) Nicole Johnston uses those colours and there’s nothing on there (the election material) that’s LNP,” she said.

Cr Richards’ official How to Vote Card is purple, and advises Greens and Labor voters to nominate her as their second choice.

She said the LNP’s claim was “as baseless and stupid as their first claim” and there was no breach as the flyer contained no misleading information or false statements and did not induce electors to cast an informal vote.

Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner. Photographer: Liam Kidston

Cr Richards said: “First they bullied me, then they threatened me, now they’re trying legal action”.

An ECQ spokesman said colours were up to the candidates to choose and the quotes used were publicly available on the Brisbane City Council website.

In a statement, an LNP spokesman claimed: “Greg Adermann is the representative of Team Schrinner in Pullenvale, and anyone else using the colours, photographs and format of an LNP how-to-vote card is simply trying to hoodwink voters.

“Accordingly, we wrote to Ms Richards (on Monday) asking her to cease and desist (the use of the materials).

“As she has refused to do so, we are now forced to take action to protect our brand and intellectual property…”

The LNP announced last year that Cr Richards would not be their candidate for the ward at the upcoming election after they referred her to the Crime and Corruption Commission over claims they have never revealed.

Cr Richards has denied any wrongdoing.