Mackay and Moreton Bay residents frustrated after receiving automated Team Quirk messages in lead up to Brisbane City Council election

AUTOMATED campaign calls from one of Brisbane’s lord mayoral candidates are angering Queenslanders, with some receiving up to eight calls in two weeks. But it’s the people 900km away who are most angry.

Generic image of smartphone iPhone user. Blonde woman angry at phone.

UPDATE:

RESIDENTS from Melbourne to Mackay have been bothered by robot phone calls from Brisbane’s two leading mayoral candidates.

The calls are designed to win over voters but according to public feedback, it appears the tactic may actually have the reverse effect.

People have taken to Facebook to express their outrage after being inconvenienced by automated calls sent out by incumbent Lord Mayor Graham Quirk and ALP candidate Rod Harding.

Yesterday Quest Community Newspapers reported that the Team Quirk message had reached people in Mackay and Moreton Bay.

Last night, Rod Harding’s Facebook Page was also flooded with angry comments saying his calls had been sent to Melbourne and the Gold Coast.

Brisbane residents were also among the furious, claiming the calls had disturbed them during dinner or family time. One man said he had answered five of Harding’s calls in one night.

Team Quirk and Rod Harding’s media teams have been contacted for comment.

EARLIER:

PEOPLE from as far as Mackay have complained after receiving automated phone messages from Lord Mayor Graham Quirk ahead of tomorrow’s election.

Residents have taken to the Team Quirk and Brisbane City Council Facebook pages to express their anger after answering the calls last night.

A woman from Arana Hills, a suburb within the Moreton Bay Region Council catchment, said she had received eight calls during the past fortnight.

A Mackay man has also been contacted by mistake.

Hey morons, check where your stupid recorded messages are ringing. I just got one and I live in Mackay.

Posted by Michael Johns on Thursday, 17 March 2016

8 phone calls in two weeks, including one from "Graham Quirk"...AND I'M NOT EVEN IN BLOODY BRISBANE! >.< Last I...

Posted by Jess Dodson on Thursday, 17 March 2016

Even some Brisbane City residents have complained, saying the message had disturbed them at dinner time.

Receiving an automated telephone call during normal time families have dinner...certainly not the way to win friends and influence people two days out from poll day Mr Quirk

Posted by Jeffrey Thomas on Thursday, 17 March 2016

Lost my vote as well. Don't interrupt my family dinner with your propaganda phone message. If I want information about...

Posted by Mark Smith on Thursday, 17 March 2016

Thank you for wasting my time! Your automated system called my work number this evening while I was busy serving guests....

Posted by Karen Taylor on Thursday, 17 March 2016

How the hell do you think dragging me away from what I'm doing to answer the phone only to find your recorded election message will influence me to vote for you????? How extremely rude!

Posted by Wayne Brown on Thursday, 17 March 2016

Well done, you just helped me make my decision. I'm certainly not voting for a politician who uses an automated phone...

Posted by Emma Weatherley on Thursday, 17 March 2016

Since publishing the original version of this story, Brisbane resident Lisa Eigi has told Quest Newspapers of her frustration recieving calls from both Graham Quirk and the ALP’s Rod Harding.

“I pay for a private phone number. This is an all time low and an invasion of privacy,” she said in a Facebook comment.

“I actually rang Rod Harding’s office and complained.

“Got his call today about mid afternoon, got Graham’s call last night about 7pm.”

Team Quirk’s media team has been contacted for comment.

Did you receive one of the calls? Let us know in the comments below.