Redlands election: Crucial win for mayoral candidate after court fight

A bayside mayoral candidate who successfully stopped her opponent putting up “misleading” election signs says the Supreme Court victory would set a precedent for future campaigns.

A bayside mayoral candidate who successfully stopped her opponent putting up “misleading” election signs said this week’s Supreme Court victory would set a precedent for future campaigns.

Redland Mayoral candidate Jos Mitchell won a Supreme Court injunction to stop former federal MP Andrew Laming from erecting signs saying she was backed by green donors.

The eleventh-hour court bid resulted in Mr Laming being forced to remove all signs and Facebook posts he made claiming Ms Mitchell, was a green-funded and Labor-backed candidate.

Jos Mitchell won a Supreme Court injunction to stop former federal MP Andrew Laming from erecting signs saying she was backed by Greens donors.

Ms Mitchell said Friday’s court case had been daunting but was unable to say if it was enough to get her across the line for the city’s top job to replace retiring mayor Karen Williams who bowed out after a high-range drink driving charge.

But Ms Mitchell said she believed the victory would “reset standards” for better behaviour at polling booths in the future.

“The decision is significant because the federal government is pushing honesty in political campaigning and political advertising so this is one small step from a local government perspective towards that goal,” she said.

“It’s time we stood up to bullies and time we had truthfulness in political campaigning and I see this decision as an important step in cleaning up Redlands.

“We need to raise the bar and a higher level of integrity in our political candidates.”

Mr Laming remained circumspect about the court order and action brought by his political opponent.

Former Federal MP Andrew Laming leaves Brisbane Supreme Court. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Glenn Campbell

He said the decision would not stop him from telling the truth about a candidate.

“This is Australia, I can say what I like as my opinion,” he said.

“It means there are a few signs that I don’t have to put up and there were some extra green signs.

“There is a very clear verbal message to every voter that if you’re voting for Jos Mitchell, you’re voting for a green-donor-funded candidate.”

He said he expected a result for the post of Redland mayor today despite “low levels of voter interest”.

He said there had been low levels of interest in the election in Redland with lower levels of prepolling than usual and said he expected a surge of voters late afternoon.

“It’s still about 50:50 but the people who came out early were voting on an issue … there were low levels at prepoll and typically means a big turn out at the end of election day.”

He said he had not organised an election after-party.

Mayoral candidate, businesswoman and educator Cindy Corrie.

The third mayoral candidate businesswoman and educator Cindy Corrie said the court case showed the low level of politics being played out on the bayside.

Image: Cindy Corrie. Picture: Judith Kerr

“I think it’s unfortunate that two candidates decided to spend the last day of the election campaign in court and not in their community,” Ms Corrie said.

“The vibe I’ve picked up at booths is really good and people seem to be sick of the bickering and the rabble.

“They just want someone who can take this city forward and treat the role of mayor seriously.”

Polls close at 6pm.