Councillor’s daughter defends viral Bachelorette post

A Brisbane City Councillor and his daughter have defended a post about staying at home to watch the Bachelorette.

The Bachelorette contestant Angie Kent. A Brisbane councillor stayed at home to watch the show instead of turning up to a community forum. Picture: Tim Hunter

The daughter of a Brisbane City Councillor who was mocked around the world for posting about the Bachelorette, after declining an invite to a public forum, has come out to defend her dad.

Olivia Matic, 17, said her friends had asked her about the controversy, which blew up after her father Cr Peter Matic (Paddington) turned down an invitation to a public forum on the controversial Mt Coot-tha Quarry.

Her friends saw comments on three posts Cr Matic made about last Wednesday’s Bachelorette episode, which accused the councillor of skipping the forum to watch television.

“I’ve grown up with this (she was five when Cr Matic was first) elected. Politics can be nasty,’’ she said.

“It’s kind of sad this thing can be taken out of context.

“It wasn’t about watching the show. I just wanted to spend time with my dad.’’

Cr Matic said he declined the invitation because he had to attend a stakeholder meeting on council’s plans to revamp the Victoria Park Golf Course, which was scheduled for 4-6pm.

Olivia Matic, 17, with her father Councillor Peter Matic on the couch at home with the TV remote. Cr Matic said he was very upset at the backlash to a rare chance to spend time with his daughter watching the Bachelorette.

He said such events almost always ran late as people asked him questions afterwards, and with traffic at that time of day he was concerned he would be very late for the Mt Coot-tha event.

“That wouldn’t have been a good look. It would give the impression I don’t care about it when in fact I have met with residents many times about the quarry when it fell within (his former ward) Toowong,’’ he said.

“I had several other invitations at the same time I also had to decline, including the Australian Women in Music Awards at the Powerhouse at 7pm.

“Cr Kate Richards (whose Pullenvale ward now covers the quarry) attended that on my behalf.

“I have 128 invites in my inbox at the moment directly for me, not counting events where I have to deputise for the Lord Mayor or other councillors. You have to cancel things all the time.’’

Cr Matic said it was “appalling’’ the Greens had attacked him over the issue and said their politicians had children and should know better.

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Ironically, one of Cr Matic’s posts — which have been picked up by interstate and overseas media — had a go at disgraced Noosa Councillor Jess Glasgow, who was forced to apologise for lewd comments he made to Bachelorette contestant Angie Kent.

“OMG! So intense! The local councillor guy is giving the rest of us a bad rep,’’ Cr Matic posted at 8.51pm last Wednesday, 20 minutes after the quarry forum wrapped up.

Just after the forum kicked off, he posted “It’s Bachelorette season!’’, including a photo of his feet in colourful socks with a television tuned to the show in the background.

Then, at 9.27pm, he posted: “Good golly, Jess made it through. What?!!

One of Councillor Peter Matic's Facebook posts during last week's Bachelorette episode.

Another of Councillor Peter Matic's Facebook posts.

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State Greens MP for Maiwar, Michael Berkman, earlier said “hundreds of residents in his ward live less than 500m from the ever-expanding quarry, near Birdwood Tce’’.

“They’re the closest to the quarry of any residents in any ward,’’ he said.

“I’m constantly hearing from local residents who feel like Brisbane City Council doesn’t take the time to listen.”

More than 100 people attended the Mount Coot-tha Quarry forum.

Greens MP and forum co-host Michael (far right) was at the forum, as was Greens candidate for Paddington ward Donna Burns.

Resident Rowan Edmondson commented on one of Cr Matic’s Bachelorette posts:

“What level of stupid puts it in writing that they can’t attend a community meeting on the quarry because of ‘work commitments’ and then posts that they’re at home watching the Bachelor? Good grief.’’

Resident Tony Fairburn commented: “If you’re gonna use work commitments as an excuse to decline attending a community meeting, probably best to stay off social media.’’

But Cr Matic said he rarely watched the show, which was one of his daughter’s favourites.

“I love my job, but it’s very busy, so when my (Victoria Park) meeting finished early I thought I would surprise Olivia and spend that time together with her.

“We spoke about school — she is in Year 12 and has a lot of exams on — then she said ‘come and sit down and watch the show with me’.

“I rarely watch these things. As a dad, I sat down to watch it because it was a chance to spend some time with my daughter.’’