Campaign calls on council candidates not to sledge
A Queensland mayor says bullying and vitriol on social media is “out of control” as she urges council candidates across the state keep it kind this election.
Redlands Coast
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A QUEENSLAND mayor says bulling and vitriol on social media is “out of control” as she urges Queensland council candidates to be kind this election.
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Redland City Mayor Karen Williams this week launched the #Pledgenot2sledge campaign, coinciding with the Electoral Commission Queensland’s official notice of election.
The Redlands-led initiative to kerb social media vitriol during Queensland’s council election campaigns has been rolled out to candidates across the state.
They are being urged to sign a pledge not to use social media to sledge their opponents.
The pledge was run locally in Redlands in 2018 with the call now being put to candidates statewide to help stamp out bullying this election period.
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“Bullying and vitriol on social media is out of control and having significant impacts on everyone from our children to our work colleagues and it has to stop,” Cr Williams said.
“As community leaders it is incumbent on all politicians and political candidates to lead by example, but unfortunately that doesn’t always occur.
“People are tired of reading social media sledging and bullying.
“They want their community leaders to set the bar hirer and I am calling on anyone wanting to hold the position of Councillor or Mayor to do just that.”
“Local government is the closest level of government to the community. The community expects more from their elected representatives so starting at the grassroots might seed the most effective outcome.
“I am asking all candidates to make this commitment, join with me and show our communities we are listening to what they want.”
Mayor Williams said she had also been in talks with schools, service providers and community leaders about ways to ensure the #Pledgenot2sledge campaign reached the people who needed it most.
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