Teenage vandals go gothic on Gold Coast poll candidates

The 2024 state election on the Gold Coast has taken a horror turn with teenage vandals embarking on a “Monster Mash” attack of political signage.

The 2024 state election on the Gold Coast has taken a horror turn with teenage vandals embarking on a “monster mash” attack of political signage.

The worst impacted suburbs have been Burleigh and Pacific Pines where corflutes have been damaged with graffiti.

“It’s a monster mash. Teenagers have gone gothic and attacked the signs of all candidates,” a political campaigner said.

In Burleigh, the vandalism has taken a comic turn with LNP candidate and former councillor Hermann Vorster joking about his image being turned into 1960s television star Herman Munster.

LNP candidate for Burleigh Hermann Vorster has enjoyed some creative art work on his corflutes. One has him resembling 1970s comic horror series character Herman Munster.

Mr Vorster has probably politically benefited from the art work which may have been done by supporters – because it has put a focus on his campaign.

“I’ve got some creative supporters I met when doorknocking some time ago. They’ve brought an inside joke into the public sphere. I think it’s hilarious,” he said.

But the graffiti further north has been less creative and more damaging to campaign budgets.

A corflute for One Nation Gaven candidate Sandy Roach vandalised at Pacific Pines.

In Gaven, LNP candidate Bianca Stone, One Nation candidate Sandy Roach and sitting Labor MP Meaghan Scanlon have all had their corflutes damaged on key roundabouts in Pacific Pines.

The artists have added fangs to their toothy smiles. The seat is the most hotly contested in the city, with Ms Scanlon on a 7.8 per cent margin the Coast’s only Labor MP.

Only Ms Scanlon in recent days has been able to replace her signage. “Our signs are being damaged and removed as well as the others,” an ALP spokesperson said.

Ms Stone has also welcomed some of the positive artwork on her signs.

“We’ve had about a dozen signs vandalised and many more have been stolen,” Ms Stone said.

“Given the juvenile nature of the vandalism I would suggest this is another example of young criminals causing senseless destruction rather than anyone with a political agenda.

Corflutes at Pacific Pines which have been vandalised during the 2024 State poll.

“We have replaced some but are restricted by expenditure caps. I have to say though, not all vandalism has been nasty, one person spent a lot of time drawing love hearts on my signs.”

The Bulletin has spotted teenage school boys removing the corflutes of Labor, LNP and One Nation candidates in Pacific Pines. Ms Roach has been contacted for comment.

--

Follow @PaulWestonGC