Southern Downs mayor Melissa Hamilton claims victory against establishment, abuse and trolls, ushers in new diverse council

The woman who will likely become the mayor of a regional Queensland council in a stunning upset has opened up about her journey to office, and the abuse she faced along the way.

Mayoral hopeful Melissa Hamilton is staunchly independent

The Southern Downs is set to have a new mayor, and after months of criticism and anonymous abuse she is ready to usher in a new council.

Melissa Hamilton, a first-time candidate, claimed victory in the mayoral race late on Tuesday afternoon in a stunning upset that saw incumbent Vic Pennisi turfed out.

Her win is yet to be confirmed by the Electoral Commission of Queensland however, which will shift to counting preferences as Ms Hamilton currently sits on just over 46 per cent.

Mayor Melissa Hamilton resonated with voters at the polls, sweeping the race against incumbent Vic Pennisi and Lindsay Goodwin.

On preference counts, it would be a steep battle for mayor Vic Pennisi to overtake his opponent.

If elected, she will be the second female mayor of the modern Southern Downs and Warwick Shire era after Tracy Dobie.

Hamilton paid tribute to Mr Pennisi on Tuesday afternoon.

“I would say I’m the underdog, when I started this I was definitely feeling like I was an underdog and felt like the task ahead of me was almost impossible,” Ms Hamilton said.

“This is an electorate that I wasn’t sure would embrace change, but I was amazed with how many people of all ages and all across the political spectrum that wanted change,” she said.

“The momentum over the last few weeks built up some steam, and two weeks ago I started to think that this could happen.”

AGAINST ABUSE AND ADVERSITY

The road to mayor was tough and long for Hamilton, bursting out the gate to announce she was running before even the incumbent publicly declared his intention to run.

Straight from the jump the lawyer received abuse and criticism from anonymous trolls and public criticism – particularly about her address and how “no one had heard of her”.

“It was a big task for when I decided to stand, and it was a difficult decision to make, and initially I had wanted to run for council because I lacked a bit of profile in the region,” Ms Hamilton said.

Melissa Hamilton at Allora on election day. March 16, 2024.

“But the discussions I had with people in the lead up to nominations indicated there wouldn’t have been a strong challenger (for Pennisi) and I thought the region needed that.”

Ms Hamilton said the Southern Downs was a big place, and people could say “they don’t know me” about any candidate on the ballot.

“It was interesting to watch, and I interpreted it that I just wasn’t known to that certain group (online). I got my house built by a local builder, and I get my hair done locally, and go to local shops – so they all know me.”

Ms Hamilton agreed the previous council was a bit of a boys club, and that it was an environment women wouldn’t want to be in.

“I spoke to a lot of women who would have been fantastic councillors asking them to stand, and overwhelmingly the women said to me they would not put themselves in the room, the way it is.”

INSPIRATION FOR WOMEN

Featuring a council that will likely be made up of five female councillors, and led by a female mayor, Ms Hamilton said the possible new leadership would be a diverse bunch.

“I’m getting the sense that people did think primarily who will work around the table as team together, and who can put personal differences aside,” she said.

Ms Hamilton took aim at “outdated” electoral rules in Queensland which she believes led to confusion and speculation online – which saw her targeted by the spread of misinformation on social media

Melissa Hamilton with likely new councillor Joel Richters at Glengallan

A misunderstanding around a PO box address on campaign material saw her targeted as an outsider who didn’t even live in the region.

“When Victoria changed their law to allow the use of PO boxes, the number of female candidates immediately increased, because it’s as simple as women not wanting to put their personal address on a whole heap of information,” Hamilton said.

“Almost every woman I spoke to got it instantly, but it was funny how there was that chatter out there from a group of men.”

Ms Hamilton said the abuse and targeted flack from anonymous accounts on social media platforms wasn’t disheartening and was easy to ignore.

“I was capable to ignore it, and I knew it was coming from a particular group, but when it made its way out of the groups and into the public I had to address it and occasionally make a statement,” she said.

PLANS FOR THE FUTURE

Hamilton admitted she has no aspirations for politics and says she “just wouldn’t do it at any other level.”

“It’s about community and my aspiration was to step up into a role where I can help the community and do a better job for them.”

“I’m professional, not just because I’m a lawyer, but I’m naturally cautious and very considered in my desicions.

“Councillors have very little protection from the toxic culture, the only person that has any impact is the mayor. For whatever reason with the previous council there were not steps taken early enough to deal with a growing issue within the council chambers.”

Melissa Hamilton is the newest mayor of the Southern Downs.

Hamilton said there was a lot of work during the campaign, and it was an overall “positive” campaign.

“I don’t want to do the hundred day thing that you see in federal politics because I want my council to be a collaborative body and until next week I won’t sit down with the group of eight all together,” she said.

“We need to agree on what our priorities are. One thing I really want to focus on early is getting the basics done better, that’s something the Southern Downs needs to know they have been listened too.

“In terms of the basics, I want attention to parks and gardens, communal spaces and a big focus on road maintenance, which are an issue in the community and we’ll need a concerted effort to deal with that, but in the short term I think council needs to know the community wants attention on that.”