Brisbane election 2016: Campaign ‘sabotage’ in the lead up to council election revealed

BRISBANE City Council candidates spill the beans on the “grubby tactics” of election campaigning and the abuse staff have to deal with as polling day looms.

Graffiti Generic 3 November 08 Graffiti Generic Tunnel under rail at Enmore. Photo Phil Rogers

ELECTION signs have been stolen, vandalised and even burnt in the lead up to the 2016 Brisbane City Council election.

Several southside councillors and candidates have told Quest Community Newspapershow their campaigning went and how they dealt with the “grubby tactics”.

LNP candidate for The Gabba ward Sean Jacobs said he had more than 20 signs stolen, including one sign set on fire at West End.

“My first instance is to laugh, it helps me see the lighter side of things,” Mr Jacobs said.

“But in the end, it’s such a waste ... voters deserve to put a face to a candidate’s name and, regardless of your side of politics, vandalised signs only prevent this from happening.”

Team Quirk signs at West End before they were stolen and burnt. Picture: SUPPLIED

In the MacGregor ward, Labor candidate Tom Huang said things had been “reasonably civilised”.

“There have been a couple of attempts of low-level intimidation and the verbal abuse of a female team member at one of the pre-polling centres and the odd unpleasant rude comment,” he said.
A Quest Community Newspapers photographer spotted a vandalised Cr Steven Huang (MacGregor ward) sign on Shirland St, MacGregor on March 11.

Cr Huang did not respond to Quest Community Newspapers’ questions.

Vandalised sign for LNP candidate for MacGregor Councillor Steven Huang, taken at Shirland St, MacGregor, March 11.

ALP candidate for Runcorn ward Stanley Hsu said the number of his signs which had been stolen or vandalised was “ridiculous”.

Mr Hsu said he replaced one of his “severely defaced” signs at Lynelle St, Sunnybank Hills only to find it identically defaced the next day.

Vandalised sign of Stanley Hsu, ALP candidate for Runcorn ward. Picture: SUPPLIED

Mr Hsu also said he received about 40 calls on March 16 and 17 from interstate businesses after his number was released to them in what he called a “prank” and “another grubby tactic”.

ALP candidate for Calamvale ward Mucktar Wesseh said his signs were vandalised at Algester Rd and Ridgewood Rd at Algester, Gowan Rd, Calamvale and signs removed on Algester Rd, Gowan Rd, Ridgewood Rd and Algester Rd at Algester and Parkwood Rd at Heathwood.

“It is unfortunate in all elections that candidates election signs get vandalised regardless of which political party,” Mr Wesseh said.

In the Moorooka ward, incumbent ALP Councillor Steve Griffiths said he didn’t believe signs being stolen was a personal attack. But he said it was disappointing to see any form of vandalism.

“Generally, it has been a positive campaign ... we have shared our pre-poll tent with the LNP, overall it has been conducted in a friendly and professional manner.
LNP candidate for Moorooka Brett Gillespie said he had signs stolen four times.

“If people really wanted a sign of me, I could have personally delivered one to them,” he said.

“I can’t believe no one has drawn hair on any of my signs.”

Election signs cannot be displayed prior to the date the election has been publicly announced or 35 days prior to the election signs.

Any remaining election signs will need to removed by March 26, 2016.