LNP young gun Jacob Heremaia claims ‘stitch up’ by fellow Logan councillor over candidate forum

A Logan councillor running as an LNP candidate for a state Labor seat, said he was a ‘no show’ at a candidate forum because of a ‘political stitch-up’ by a fellow Logan councillor.

A vacant seat at the Waterford candidate forum which was attended by sitting MP Shannon Fentiman, left, and Greens candidate Kirsty Petersen, right. Picture: Contributed

A sitting councillor who is contesting a blue-ribbon Labor seat, has been criticised for not attending a meet-the-candidates forum on the weekend.

Logan City councillor Jacob Heremaia, the LNP candidate for the Labor-held southside seat of Waterford, claimed he was “stitched up” because he did not receive adequate notice of the meeting.

More than 100 residents, along with Greens candidate Kirsty Petersen and the sitting Waterford MP Shannon Fentiman, gathered at Bethania for the forum organised by Mr Heremaia’s Logan council colleague, councillor Tony Hall.

LNP documents showed Cr Heremaia, who was contacted for comment, was invited to the forum on Tuesday, September 17, four days before the event.

The emails also showed Cr Heremaia sent his apologies and declined to attend on Wednesday, September 18, citing prior engagements, which led to criticism from council ratepayers, his state opponents, and Waterford residents.

Logan City councillor Jacob Heremaia posted that he was in Logan Reserve, a suburb of the Waterford electorate at the time of the forum, left, and, an excerpt of an invitation to sitting MP Shannon Fentiman, sent on September 17.

In a statement, Cr Heremaia said: “I was unable to attend due to a prior community commitment but this is clearly a political stitch-up given my opponents were invited six weeks ago and I received an invitation just four days before the event,” he said.

“I continue to work full-time as a councillor representing our community, however, the right thing to do is to excuse myself from council decisions about the election.”

The Logan councillor on Saturday posted videos on his “Jacob Heremaia – LNP for Waterford” Facebook page claiming he was busy campaigning in Logan Reserve, a suburb in the Waterford electorate, while the forum was being held.

Greens candidate Ms Petersen said she knew about the debate as early as August 8 and was disappointed Cr Heremaia did not attend.

Cr Hall did not return calls but sent text messages which appeared to show that Ms Fentiman was also invited on September 17.

Anger at the forum also followed Cr Heremaia declaring conflicts of interest and voluntarily leaving Logan council chambers for eight items at a September 11 meeting.

One of the main items he missed was the controversial $15.5 million Bethania to Logan Village Rail Trail, a major project in the Waterford state seat which was discussed at length at the weekend forum.

The campaign tussle was seen on the streets with election signs stirring complaints. Picture: Contributed

Ms Fentiman, who holds the seat with a 16.02 per cent margin, said Mr Heremaia did not attend the candidates debate because he was dodging difficult questions.

“The forum was a fantastic candidates’ debate, but unfortunately, the LNP candidate for Waterford, Jacob Heremaia, could not even be bothered showing up to talk to residents about why they should vote for him,” Ms Fentiman said.

Questions that have been put to Mr Heremaia but remain unanswered include what type of services his companies Rpay, and its holding company Avem Technology, provide.

Cr Heremaia this month updated his register of interests to include his software company Avem Technology, listed as a body corporate, which trades under the name Rpay and shares the same Moorooka address as Cr Heremaia’s father Dale Heremaia’s Bekaja company.

Cr Heremaia’s register also now includes a loan of more than $10,000 from his father.

The bitter campaign tussle in Waterford between the two major parties continued on Sunday with the young gun’s election signs and those of Ms Fentiman’s the subject of complaints.

Cr Heremaia will officially step aside from his role at Logan City Council on Tuesday, October 1, when the writs are issued for the October 26 election.