Election campaign signs pop up in Thuringowa
Campaign signs labelling Thuringowa MP Aaron Harper as a ‘King of Crime’ have appeared across the electorate. Here’s why.
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Campaign signs labelling Thuringowa MP Aaron Harper as a “King of Crime” have appeared across the electorate.
The brazen act has been claimed as a victory by One Nation candidate Troy Thompson who confirmed to the Bulletin he was responsible for them.
Mr Thompson said he had been given permission by a number of residents in Thuringowa to hang election campaign signs, including these which were spotted on Riverway Drive.
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“Oh look, obviously part of the campaign is to get as much visibility and attention on me and One Nation,” Mr Thompson said.
“We’ve come up with the Kings of Crime because that’s what we think they are.
“The point is they’ve been in power since 2015 and nothing has changed with them, crime has increased and they’re responsible, they’re an ineffectual government.”
It is unclear if the bold move will come back to bite the candidate as it could be in breach of Electoral Commission Queensland Regulations.
Mr Harper said his team had reported the signs to the ECQ to investigate.
“Good luck to him and I’ll leave it to ECQ to look into the disgusting, self-manufactured signage,” Mr Harper said.
“The irony is it’s on Riverway Drive where I was successful in getting $40 million duplication of stage 1 (upgrades) which has seen job-generating private investment projects popping up along there.
“I’ll be asking people to vote for me because I am all in on delivering stage 2, which is in stark contrast to a minor party that will never deliver anything of substance for Thuringowa.”
A spokesman for the ECQ said its role was to authorise and distribution of relevant material during the election period, which began with the issue of the Writ.
“The subject of the sign may wish to refer the matter for the Queensland Police Service,” the spokesman said.
“The ECQ does not determine whether a person has published a false statement of fact regarding the personal character or conduct of the candidate.”
Originally published as Election campaign signs pop up in Thuringowa