Gold Coast campaign in the gutter as opponents hack down signs of candidates

CANDIDATES awoke today to discover their signs destroyed in an unprecedented wave of vandalism in the hotly contested northern Gold Coast seats.

The election has started and the signs are out as campaigning begins in the seat of Gaven.. Picture Glenn Hampson

CANDIDATES awoke today to discover their signs destroyed in an unprecedented wave of vandalism in the hotly contested northern Gold Coast seats.

Experienced MPs fear the campaign, after just one week, is fast headed towards the gutter.

Albert MP Mark Boothman, who is standing in the new seat of Theodore, will need to replace dozens of signs either stolen or destroyed after being posted on major suburban roads.

“I’ve gone through 50 in just a week. Someone has taken a brush cutter to one. Even some of the Labor ones are being taken,” Mr Boothman said.

Member for Albert Mark Boothman. Estimate Committee hearing at Parliament House. Pics Tim Marsden

The LNP MP and his campaign team members are making regular reconnaissance missions as sign warfare takes off around northern suburbs hugging the Pacific Motorway.

“I do believe its bored teens ripping them down. Most nights I don’t get home to midnight. We don’t hammer them back up at night. We don’t want to wake anyone up,” Mr Boothman said.

Coomera LNP MP Michael Crandon has managed to keep all of his signs but his colleague Sid Cramp in Gaven lost all of his corflutes on a major hinterland road west of Nerang.

“I’ve lost all of my signs through the back of Nerang. They’ve disappeared. I’ve probably lost about 20 of them on Nerang Beaudesert Road,” Mr Cramp said.

“I’ve had someone punch a hole through my face in Pacific Pines and left it there for me to see. I’ve probably had 50 signs damaged or disappeared in the last week.

“I’ve got a few signs left but if this keeps going it will be hard to deal with. The Labor ones seem to be intact.

“If it’s a general offender I hope the police will catch them. If it’s a person acting on political motives, it’s a real low act, that you are destroying someone’s else property.”

The seat of Broadwater where LNP candidate David Crisafulli has been strong on signage. Picture Mike Batterham

In the new marginal seat of Bonney independent candidate Ron Nightingale for several days has complained that only his homemade signs were being targeted.

“With the ALP and LNP flexing their financial muscle by covering every road, every power pole every council fence with hundreds of signs and banners, it seems that mine are the only ones that are being vandalised,” he told the Bulletin.

Mr Nightingale said his signage was limited to 35 corflutes, a 1.7 metre banner, three 1.8m larger signs and four information panels.

“Why would anyone wish to deface my signs by removing relevant information panels,” he said.

“This activity against me which can only come from those wishing to stop the community knowing their independent candidate. It will not affect my campaign except to strengthen my resolve to push forward.”