Pub fundraiser fight: LNP linked to Gold Coast council poll

A GOLD Coast council candidate and prominent LNP member has defended getting a Senator from her party to launch her fundraising campaign for the March local government poll.

A GOLD Coast council candidate and prominent LNP member has defended getting a Senator from her party to launch her fundraising campaign for the March poll.

The fundraiser and other LNP members targeting vacant councillor seats has caused a protest from candidates promoting themselves as independents.

Gold Coast City Council candidate Wendy Coe and her fundraiser for her division.

LNP members admit they are “dumbfounded” and “shocked” after candidate Wendy Coe announced Senator James McGrath as the special guest speaker at her fundraiser.

Ms Coe confirmed she had been an LNP member for eight years, former chair of the Surfers Paradise branch and organised Surfers Paradise MP John-Paul Langbroek’s last State campaign. She remains chair of Gold Coast Region LNP Women Branch.

Gold Coast City Council candidate Wendy Coe who is running in Division Seven.

“I am not endorsed by the LNP – there are no endorsed LNP candidates anywhere in Queensland except those running for Brisbane City Council. I am not endorsed or financed by the LNP,” she said.

Ms Coe estimated her expenditure would be much less than her rival Ryan Bayldon-Lumsden who had been a treasurer in Bonney MP Sam O’Connor’s branch.

“My expenditure accounts are up on the ECQ website, under $4000, you see the budget I’m working with,” she said.

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“(Senator) James (McGrath) has been a personal friend of mine for many years and he will be talking about his time in London and possibly amuse us with some Boris (Johnson) anecdotes,” she said.

“He will also be talking about the drought and bushfires occurring throughout Queensland as he travels extensively to many small towns and he is in a unique position to inform us at the lunch as to just how bad the situation is in rural Queensland.

Volunteer lifesaver and Southport council candidate Michael Pulford — keeping watch on LNP members running for council.

“As a side note, there will be Labor supporters at my luncheon as well. I have many friends on all sides of politics and this is a testament to how I treat people – as individuals.”

Mr Bayldon-Lumsden said: “I’m not endorsed by any political party, and my campaign is completely self-funded. I am a member of the LNP. However, my views, policy and positions are entirely my own and independent from partying thinking. I am, in all senses, my own person. My focus is on the residents that live in Division 7.”

Southport businessman Michael Pulford, who is running as an independent, has sparked a debate in Division 6 where at least two LNP members want to secure the division left vacant by retiring councillor Dawn Crichlow.

“I don’t have a problem with any political party and their democratic right to express their party views,” he said.

“But I do have a problem with a declaration of independence from council candidates who are members of a political party and who are receiving support from their parties, at least in the form of volunteers at election day and pre-polling.

“In one case, we have an independent candidate who stood for pre-selection for a state LNP seat in the past 12 months. Should such candidates be running as independents just because they are supposedly funding their own campaign?

Southport council candidate Michael Pulford, a volunteer lifesaver — questioning independence of some candidates.

Southport candidate and LNP identity Brooke Patterson said the vast majority of people who were helping her was due to her community involvement, many of them from Benowa State School and the Southport Bowls Club.

Gold Coast City Council candidate Brooke Patterson who will be running in the new Division 6.

“The reason why I may have more volunteers engaged and supporting me is because I am connecting our community and people know that I am a doer,” Ms Patterson said.

Council staffer and Southport candidate Shaylee Welchman said she had only recently joined the LNP and it was unrelated to her candidacy.

“My campaign and campaign team are fiercely independent. I’m running on my 20-year council record of delivery and my ability to get things done for Southport, honouring the fine legacy of Dawn Crichlow,” she said.