Revealed: Every Sunshine Coast mayor hopefuls spend, donations for election

Sunshine Coast mayor hopefuls have spent nearly $190k in a bid to win the council election, including one candidate who has dropped over $75,000, with the donations to match.

Sunshine Coast mayor hopefuls have spent big in a bid to win election.

Sunshine Coast mayor hopefuls have splashed cash in a bid to win the council election, including one candidate who has spent more than $75,000, with donations nearly matching.

Mayoral candidates have so far collectively spent more than $189,000 in campaigning in a bid to be elected to the top job on March 16.

In terms of expenditure to date, Cr Jason O’Pray has spent $75,040.32, Wayne Parcell has spent $45,660, Ashley Robinson has spent $33,385.12, Rosanna Natoli has spent $20,855.57, Min Swan has spent $14,379.60, while Michael Burgess has spent $638.08.

The Electoral Commission of Queensland stipulates that mayoral candidates on the Sunshine Coast have an electoral expenditure cap of $189,230.

Candidates are required to update their expenditure weekly, with daily updates required as election day nears.

In addition to campaign expenditure, more than $153,000 has been made in declared donations across all candidates.

In terms of donations to date, Mr O’Pray has received $71,708 in donations, Mr Robinson has received $36,255, Ms Swan has received $25,799, Ms Natoli has received $18,705, Mr Burgess has received $1200, while Mr Parcell has received $998.

Cr Jason O'Pray with his election campaign team at his mayoral announcement.

Reflecting on his campaign spend to date, Mr O’Pray said it was a “fair and moderate amount”.

“It does cost a lot of money, we’ve got a very serious campaign out there, we’re taking this campaign incredibly seriously,” he said.

In acknowledging the donations, Mr O’Pray thanked the small business community for the support he had received.

“I feel very humbled and very fortunate that I have a lot of small businesses across the entire Sunshine Coast that are willing to help me and get behind me financially and also have a lot of the tourism industry that are excited to help me as well,” he said.

Mr Parcell, who has been updating his expenditure daily, has been publicly disclosing his electoral spend as part of his pitch to voters.

Wayne Parcell is updating his election expenditure daily.

“It is all on the public record for all to see, in real time,” he said.

“My total campaign spend is a very economical mayoral campaign because I am putting my, not someone else’s, money where my mouth is.

“More importantly, I have received just $998 in donations to my campaign: it is clear that no one owns me; I am beholden to no one; my commitment is to the voting public of the Sunshine Coast who deserve a mayor who will bring transparency to the council.”

In acknowledging his spend, Mr Robinson said running a campaign to meet a large voter base has been challenging on “limited resources”.

Sunshine Coast mayor candidate Ashley Robinson. Picture: Patrick Woods.

“As an unaligned, independent candidate my campaign has been run on limited resources,” he said.

“In total I expect to pull in and spend $50,000 which includes money I’ve put in, cash from donors and in-kind support all of which will be properly accounted and publicly available on the Electoral Commission Queensland website.

“I don’t support party politics at a local government level but the task of reaching with limited resources a voter base equivalent to that of the six state electorates on the Sunshine Coast has, I’m sure, been as difficult for other candidates as it has been for my team.

“Local government elections showcase democracy at its grassroots level, it’s an enjoyable slog that has exposed me to many wonderful people I otherwise may not have known and to groups who do fantastic work in the community with little support.”

Rosanna Natoli has received about $18k in election donations.

Ms Natoli believes it is “absolutely imperative” for candidates to disclose how they are funded.

“It’s a tight balance, I’m trying to run as lean as I can while still understanding the reality of needing to get your message out there,” Ms Natoli said.

“I think it’s absolutely imperative that the public has a right to know what is being spent and so that we have a cap but also where the money is coming from because the public has a right to know if a candidate is beholden to anyone.

“What I can say is that I am beholden to the people of the Sunshine Coast, that’s for sure.”

Prominent businesswoman Min Swan is gunning for the role of Sunshine Coast mayor. Picture: Supplied

Ms Swan said in disclosing her expenditure and donations, she is trying to maintain her platform of campaigning on financial responsibility.

“I’m running a lean campaign, trying to reduce waste of money and resources, especially when my platform for me is to be financially responsible,” Ms Swan said.

“It is critical to disclose how that money is spent, the community expects us to be a transparent council and if people are not doing that in the election, then what credibility do they have in the role?

“It’s really important and it plays a large part in stopping corruption.”

Michael Burgess has called for transparency regarding election expenditure.

Mr Burgess has called for “real time” disclosure and “transparency” regarding the funding of election campaigns.

“I think it’s important that we disclose in real time our expenditure for elections and that we are open and transparent about where these donations are coming from,” Mr Burgess said.

“To some degree, we should also be transparent in the associations that our direct donors have with other corporations.

“My policies don’t necessarily match those candidates that are receiving big money, my policies are for a different economic direction.”

The 2024 local government election will take place on Saturday, March 16.

Everything you need to know about the election can be found here.