‘I am embarrassed by the sheer lack of humility displayed by Brooke Patterson announcing she had won’

BROOKE Patterson is being accused of calling victory too early in the hotly contested division of Southport, as two rivals launch a stinging attack on her.

BROOKE Patterson is being accused of calling victory too early in the hotly contested division of Southport as two rivals launch a stinging attack on her.

Candidates Shaelee Welchman and Susie Gallagher have vowed to make a challenge on the poll to the Electoral Commission of Queensland after estimating up to 4000 people in aged care missed out on a vote. Ms Patterson believes the correct number is 487.

Electoral Commission of Queensland staffers begin the count in the Gold Coast City Council 2020 poll.

Ms Gallagher today said she was “disgusted” to learn that aged care residents would be denied their right to vote along with frontline health staff. She was furious with Ms Patterson.

“I find it disgusting that these are the people who built this city on the back of their blood, sweat and tears and someone decides in their twilight years that their opinion is worth nought,” Ms Gallagher said.

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“I am also embarrassed by the sheer lack of humility displayed by Brooke Patterson in announcing that she had won the election based on 15 per cent of the vote.

“I can’t complain — she out spent me by about conservatively $80,000 — 10,000 corflutes, fancy billboards.”

Ms Patterson yesterday said ABC radio news made a call on the division and she backed it after gaining a large lead on Ms Welchman.

Votes being counted after the Gold Coast City Council 2020 poll.

With almost 19 per cent of the vote posted on the ECQ site today, Ms Patterson has almost 42 per cent of the vote.

Ms Welchman is second with 23.38 per cent and Ms Gallagher has 13.7 per cent. Michael Pulford was third with 15.23 per cent and Josephine Tobias polled 5.78 per cent.

Ms Welchman told The Bulletin: “I was very disappointed to see some outlets call the winner in Division 6 with less than 20 per cent of the vote counted.

“This was of course exacerbated by Brooke Patterson’s premature claims of victory, such is her desperation to become a politician.”

You Decided Gold Coast Bulletin Election Forums,. Divisions 6, 8, 9, and 11 held at the Southport RSL club in Southport. Division 6 candidates, Susie Gallagher, Josephine Tobias, Brooke Patterson, Michael Pulford, and Shaelee Welchman. Picture: Jerad Williams

The ECQ only started counting prepolls yesterday at 1.00pm and Ms Welchman’s scrutineers confirmed she had won the largest booth of over 6000 votes, on preferences from Ms Gallagher.

“Brooke is in trouble (calling this so early),” a scrutineer said.

If the large booth result was repeated when the remaining 15,000 votes were counted, plus postal votes and telephone votes, another scrutineer said the result would “be very close indeed”.

“No-one can yet pick a winner or claim success,” the scrutineer said.