Gold Coast Council election 2016: Debate turns ugly after rival Brooke Patterson asks about political donations

GARY Baildon stormed off from a community meeting after rival Brooke Patterson put the blowtorch on the former mayor about past political donations from developers.

GCB Former Mayor Gary Baildon leaving the community meeting after rival Brooke Patterson asked about the donations to his campaign.

GARY Baildon has stormed off from a community meeting after rival Brooke Patterson put the blowtorch on the former mayor about past political donations from developers.

An emotional Mr Baildon, who waved his arm at Ms Patterson, left the stage and was consoled by family before returning later, as debate continued before about 100 residents at the Southport Carrara Netball Association at Hebe Street.

Gary Baildon (left) at the ballot draw for the Gold Coast City Council elections. Picture: Glenn Hampson

Several candidates in the Surfers Paradise division yesterday admitted they were disgusted and uncomfortable as Thursday night’s meeting, the third to be staged during the day, became ugly.

Mr Baildon, 76, a three-time mayor and Order of Australia recipient, received an $18,000 political donation from the Sunland Group more than a decade ago which has been on the public record.

Candidate George Friend told the Bulletin: “I’ve never seen Gary like that before. What I’m really concerned about, I’m more concerned about how (his wife) Kathy was.

“This is local government, it’s not for sheep stations.

“He’s an honoured Australian.

“This was inappropriate and disrespectful.”

Gary Baildon at City Hall. Picture: John Gass

Former city councillor Susie Douglas, who is also running in the division, said she believed it was a deliberate personal attack by Ms Patterson “designed to humiliate Gary when he was least expecting it”.

“It came from left field. Brooke Patterson has only lived on the Gold Coast for the last eighteen months and is throwing mud in all directions hoping it will stick. She needs to come clean about her own background,” Ms Douglas said.

Several people who attended the meeting said the response was divided, with some wanting an answer from Mr Baildon and others disgusted, walking out after the attack.

Ms Patterson said yesterday the information she had obtained showed Mr Baildon had received donations of more than $150,000 from the development industry, including $18,000 from Soheil Abedian’s Sunland Group in previous campaigns.

Surfers Paradise council candidate Brook Patterson. Picture: Scott Fletcher

“The Sunland development being planned for The Spit is the most sensitive decision to be made by council since the amalgamation of the Albert Shire,’’ she said.

“And people – the residents and ratepayers – have a right to know if the very councillors who vote these multi-million dollar projects through, have taken donations from these developers.

“You cannot talk about trust and transparency and then not question the issue of these donations.”

Mr Baildon late yesterday said: “It looks like a silly stunt from a candidate who has lived on the Gold Coast for five minutes and is desperately seeking relevance.

“My disclosures are a matter of public record. My family and I are funding my campaign.”

Candidate Lucy Cole said she believed political donations should be on public record but was disappointed by Ms Patterson’s tactics.

“I share a lot of common views with Brooke for the future of this city but this attack was not the sort of approach you would expect or desire from a person who has ambitions of serving in public office,” she said.

“The attack reminded me of a vicious public relations stunt, rather than the behaviour of a mature political contender. “

Candidate Billy James said the fierce battle in the division was impacting on some more than others.

“The donations to my knowledge are on the public record and I think Gary was just too tired to pick up on the fact the assertion was made to a past donation,” he said.

“Yes, it was an obvious witch-hunt and orchestrated in poor taste but Gary might have jumped at shadows there a bit.”