Gold Coast council election: Division 13 candidate Katrina Beikoff’s trailer knocked over

The Gold Coast council poll has dipped to a new level of gutter politics after an incident last night.

Division 13 Gold Coast City Council candidate Katrina Beikoff.

THE Gold Coast council poll has dipped to a new level of gutter politics.

A massive promotion trailer used by Division 13 candidate Katrina Beikoff has been tipped on its side overnight at Tallebudgera.

The vandalism which began in lead-up to the March 28 poll, which until now had been limited to sign damage, is forcing candidates and their volunteers across the city to make late night checks.

The council poll has turned nasty in Palm Beach with Division 13 candidate Katrina Beikoff having her signage damaged.

GOLD COAST BULLETIN ELECTION FORUMS: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

Ms Beikoff, an award-winning journalist, author and community worker, told The Bulletin: “Tipping my trailer and smashing the tail lights is a very disappointing example of nasty, petty behaviour. But a big shout out to Dan from Tally who stopped to help my husband Gary get the 700kg trailer right way up and mobile again.

“The attack on the trailer is a different level again to the chronic sign smashing and removal that has been going on during this election campaign.

“With the signs, the latest underhanded trick seems to be to knock the signs over, turn the sign face down, and break the stake on which the signs were affixed so the whole sign needs to be replaced.”

Signage belonging to Division 13 candidate Katrina Beikoff has been damaged.

MORE NEWS

New cruise ship plan sparks furious reaction

Research claims Gold Coast firmly in path of destructive cyclones

First look at massive new park to be built on Coast

Ms Beikoff said the majority of her signs were in the yards and on the front fences of homes owned by her supporters, but people had ventured onto private property and smashed the corflutes or turned them face down.

“I have so many volunteers who have joined my campaign during the past few months. They have been shocked at some of the behaviour that has occurred, and some have joined me as a result of what they have seen,” she said.

“I’m fortunate to have so many wonderful volunteers to help me and we are working around the clock to conduct a clean, fair campaign for this division. But I have no choice now but to step up late night checks around the area to limit the amount of damage to my campaign property.”

Ms Beikoff, along with Bern Young and Scott Wallace, are standing against veteran councillor Daphne McDonald in the new Palm Beach-Burleigh division.

The Bulletin with its You Decide elections forums will stage a southern meeting for divisions 13 and 14 on March 16 at the Burleigh Heads and Mowbray Park Surf Life Saving Club.