Hollywell couple Aaron and Chantal Lugg hit with enforcement notice over cheeky election sign

A Gold Coast couple thought they were contributing to democratic debate with a cheeky sign they put up in their front yard. But council has taken a different view. Here’s why.

A Hollywell couple who put up a sign in their yard about the Fadden by-election thought they were contributing to democratic debate.

But the Gold Coast council has taken a different view – ordering them to either get a licence for the “advertising device” or tear it down.

If they refuse, council has threatened to enter Aaron and Chantal Lugg’s property on Matthew Flinders Drive to take it down themselves and send the couple a bill for “any expenses incurred in performing that work, together with interest”. The pair have also been told they could be fined up to $6840.50.

But the Luggs have not only vowed to defy the order, issued after an inspection by a council officer on Sunday morning, but have added colourful balloons to draw more attention to the homemade sign, which reads: “Cancel Mr Caldwell – Vote someone better for Fadden”.

Andy and Chantal Lugg with the sign they put up in the front yard of their Hollywell home. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

“We put the balloons up because we won’t stand down. It’s just free speech,” Ms Lugg said.

“Nobody has come to us to complain (about the sign). They’ve just said good on you.”

Mr Lugg, a former police officer, said the couple were shocked when a council officer arrived on their doorstep on Sunday morning and told them the sign breached local laws.

“We were away and we came back late on Saturday night,” Mr Lugg said.

“On Sunday morning there was a knock on the door and there was a big, burly council compliance officer asking about the sign. He said he got a complaint the day before.

“... On Monday we got the compliance notice in the mail.”

The compliance notice sent to the Luggs by council. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

Ms Lugg said the couple had no particular beef with LNP candidate Cameron Caldwell – to whom the sign clearly refers – and had not made up their minds which candidate to support in the by-election when they put it up.

Rather, they just wanted people to think carefully about how they cast their vote.

“There’s thousands of his (Mr Caldwell’s) photos on signs, he’s on electronic billboards,” Ms Lugg said.

“But there’s 13 candidates. Everyone needs to research the candidates themselves, not just go with the one with the most ads.”

Some of the Fadden candidates including Independent Belinda Jones, Legalise Cannabis Australia’s Suzette Luyken, Australian Democrat Chris Simpson, Independent Stewart Brooker, the LNP’s Cameron Caldwell and Labor’s Letitia Del Fabbro and their supporters greet voters at Runaway Bay Sports Centre when pre-poll voting opened for the seat on Monday July 3. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

The Luggs have since been assisted by independent candidate Stewart Brooker, who has allowed them to add an authorisation to the sign in his name so that it now falls under Australian Electoral Commission rules.

“For me democracy is about a competition of ideas. It should be fair and respectful. To see a resident treated this way, it shocked me,” Mr Brooker said.

“It was quite a stressful situation for them. To me, it’s quite wrong how council have handled this.

“They can see LNP signs absolutely everywhere, on a big budget, and they just want to have a voice.

“... My big thing is people should feel that their voice counts. To me this was trying to limit their voice being heard. Honestly I was quite disgusted when they approached me and told me about the situation. It was uncalled for.”

The sign how it appeared before the endorsement from independent Stewart Brooker and balloons were added.

A council spokesperson told the Bulletin they had received a single complaint about the sign on Saturday July 1.

A spokesperson for Mr Caldwell’s campaign said they had not been responsible for the complaint.

“Cr Caldwell and his team did not refer the matter to the Council but are aware of the matter as it’s been raised with them by a number of residents,” the spokesperson said.

“The compliance issue is a matter for Council.”

Mr Brooker and Mr Caldwell are among 13 candidates contesting the Fadden by-election, which takes place on July 15.

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