No ALP candidate yet in Bowman as council forced to step in over election sign breaches

Election campaign signs have hit the streets of Bowman despite no announced election date, prompting council warnings, and the absence of a Labor candidate is fuelling speculation.

Bowman candidates, from left, Greens candidate Kristie Lockhart; Family First’s candidate Karen Cloherty; Independent Shaun Holloway; Pauline Hanson’s One Nation candidate for Bowman Matthew Knight and sitting MP LNP’s Henry Pike.

The bayside seat of Bowman is in the swing of a federal election campaign with candidate signs and roadside trailers popping up across the city despite a polling date yet to be declared.

The signs and campaign trailers on Wellington St in Cleveland, have prompted complaints with the local Redland City Council issuing stern reminders to ensure the five known candidates know the rules for campaign signs across the city.

Under state rules, signs must not be erected or displayed on public land until the election date has been officially announced or after the writs have been issued.

The council warning was issued after complaints about signs and trailers advertising incumbent Liberal National MP Henry Pike on Monday.

An election trailer advertising sitting MP Henry Pike in Cleveland this week. Picture: Contributed

Mr Pike, who predicted an April 5 election, had one of his “We Like Pike” signs “mistakenly” placed 1m inside a property boundary prior to the election being called.

The Liberal National MP, who is part of the Liberal Party in Canberra, started placing signs across the city more than a week ago but said he had abided by all the rules with his signs only on private land.

He received the warning letter from the local Redland City Council on Monday after a complaint from an aggrieved ratepayer and other candidates.

Council officers forced the Pike team to move the sign and issued candidates clear instructions about compliance measures for the upcoming federal election.

Incumbent Bowman MP Henry Pike was asked by Redland City Council to remove his signs. Picture: Henry Pike

Mr Pike said claims he had illegally placed signs on public land and across the city were “incorrect”.

“We’ve had over 500 locals put their hands up to put my signs on their private property,” he said.

“One of them was mistakenly placed slightly over the property boundary and was moved back a metre after council officers asked us to.”

Mr Pike said he had not removed any other signs as there are no restrictions in Redlands “as long as signs are on private property”.

A Henry Pike sign on a roundabout in Cleveland this week. Picture: Contributed

Independent candidate Shaun Holloway was also forced to move all his signs last week.

“I am new to this so, in my enthusiasm, I did jump the gun and put signs out,” Mr Holloway said.

“However, after a call from Redland City Council I was informed that no signs, whether on private or public property, were to be erected until the election was called.

“So I did what was asked and removed all my signs.”

An excerpt from one of the letters from Redland City Council.

In the letter, a Redland Development Control Officer told candidates that there were penalties for signs found on council land, parks, nature strips, roadsides, or other public spaces.

Signs must not affect safety or affect visual amenity and must be taken down within seven days of the poll.

“There are no limits on the number of signs a candidate may have across the local government area or the size of an election sign,” the letter said.

“However, standard election signs are not permitted on council land, including a park, nature strip, roadside or other public place, and may only be displayed on private property with the consent of the landowner.”

The latest possible date for a simultaneous House of Representatives and half-Senate election is Saturday, May 17 however, in November the Prime Minister indicated the election would be earlier.

The rising complaints about election signs along with the lack of an ALP candidate in Bowman has turned the predominantly conservative seat into a battleground between the five known candidates.

Independent candidate Shaun Holloway was asked to remove some signs. Picture: Contributed

Along with the incumbent Mr Pike, and the independent candidate Mr Holloway, Greens candidate Kristie Lockhart, One Nation candidate Matthew Knight and Family First candidate Karen Cloherty have joined the contest.

The Greens candidate, medical laboratory technician Ms Lockhart, said it was a disgrace that the Pike team had put up so many signs before the poll had been called.

“Henry should know better – this is not his first election and it appears he is blatantly ignoring the rules,” Ms Lockhart said.

“I’m also disappointed that the council stipulates there is a 24-hour period for removal of offending signs for a first offence but these signs are still up and the council is not enforcing the rules.”

Ms Lockhart ran as the Greens candidate in the October state election for the seat of Redlands, gaining 2495 votes out of a total 38,199, or 6.8 per cent of the vote.

She said the Labor Party had left its run too late with no candidate announced yet, despite the Albanese government holding a one-seat majority and Bowman having 115,764 voters.

Greens candidate for Bowman Kristie Lockhart filed a complaint about election signs in Bowman being erected before the polling date was announced. Picture: The Greens

“I’m interested about Walker Corporation’s new Toondah plans which have been looked at by council and yet the community has not been shown any new plans,” she said.

“The 900 apartments are not in the water but when will the community get the details.

“I’m also interested in the outcomes for the Birkdale whitewater facility.

“The community thinks it is getting a South Bank-style lagoon for family enjoyment and they most certainly are not.

“The fact that there is no Labor candidate announced yet, has added to the claims that there is massive infighting within that branch.”

Mr Pike also said it was surprising there was still no a Labor candidate.

“Labor will inevitably have a candidate but Bowman clearly isn’t a priority for them,” Mr Pike said.

“They’ve nearly always had a candidate about 300 days from the election in Bowman – Donisha Duff last time was preselected 400 days out.

“I reckon we’re 47 days out now and there is no sign of anyone.

“They’ll definitely run someone as just a name on the ballot paper as opposed to someone actively campaigning.”

Matthew Knight is running as the One Nation candidate in Bowman. Picture: Contributed

The unapologetic social conservative won the seat with a 5.5 per cent margin and will face the challenge from Independent Mr Holloway.

Mr Holloway said he entered the race because both major political parties had failed Redland and Australia.

His main platforms are to provide cost of living relief; look at ways to ensure greater housing affordability; support small businesses; bring about economic reform without new taxes; and enact healthcare improvements.

His health reforms plans followed his wife’s stage two breast cancer diagnosis.

Pauline Hanson’s One Nation candidate for Bowman Matthew Knight said he was driven by a desire to restore values and integrity.

Mr Knight said he also believed that the major parties had neglected voters, prioritising political agendas over the wellbeing of people.

Family First candidate Karen Cloherty. Picture: Facebook

Mr Knight lives in the electorate giving him a first-hand view of challenges the bayside community faced, which he believes include rising costs of living and housing pressures to the under-pressure local infrastructure.

“It’s time to put Australians first and focus on policies that benefit the people of Bowman, not just big corporations or political elites,” he said.

Family First’s Bowman candidate Karen Cloherty, an enrolled nurse working in Outside School Hours Care, said she decided to stand against LGBT ideologies being promoted in schools and to protect women’s rights in sport and work places.

The Queensland Labor Party was contacted.

The Australian Electoral Commission said its jurisdiction was with the electoral roll and the matter of sign placements on local roads was up to the local council to patrol.

“There are no restrictions in the Electoral Act preventing signage on roadsides prior to the election period,” an AEC spokesman said.

“From an Electoral Act standpoint, as long as the signage features the required authorisation statement then it is okay.

“There are differing restrictions in place from different authorities – typically local councils.”

Originally published as No ALP candidate yet in Bowman as council forced to step in over election sign breaches