Gold Coast candidates Rick Flori and Rob Molhoek’s teams butt heads at Southport pre-poll

A VICIOUS war of words has broken out at a pre-polling booth on the Gold Coast with an independent candidate claiming he’s been “bullied” and called ‘Rick the d**k’ while LNP volunteers go home in tears. WATCH

A VICIOUS war of words has broken out at a pre-polling booth in Southport with an independent candidate claiming he’s been “bullied” and LNP volunteers going home in tears.

With just six days until Gold Coasters go the polls, mudslinging has begun between independent candidate for the seat of Southport Rick Flori and volunteers for incumbent LNP state member Rob Molhoek.

Both parties, who have been campaigning outside the Ashmore Centre during pre-polling for the State Election this week, claim the antics from both sides are getting out of hand.

Flori’s campaign director Renee Eaves told the Gold Coast Bulletin ­things turned nasty between the independent candidate’s team and LNP volunteers at the start of the week over the placement of a marquee.

A volunteer for Southport MP Rob Molhoek responds to a Rick Flori supporter. Photo: Supplied

She claims it escalated on Saturday when Flori was “bullied” by LNP volunteers who told him he was going to the “big house” and was never a police officer.

Ms Eaves also claims Mr Molhoek called Mr Flori “Rick the d**k”.

When contacted by the Bulletin Mr Molhoek said Mr Flori started it by calling him “Rob the knob”.

Mr Flori has denied making the “knob” comment.

Liberal MP Rob Molhoek and his giant Borobi. Picture Glenn Hampson

“It’s really vicious,” Ms Eaves said.

“It’s not even rude, it’s to the point where we are being physically railroaded.

“I thought there would be argy-bargy (during the campaign) but it’s just putrid what is going on.”

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Renee Eaves, social justice advocate and Rick Flori’s campaign manager. Photo Mark Cranitch.

Meanwhile, Mr Molhoek said Ms Eaves and Mr Flori were “constantly fishing for a reaction” with staff and voters.

“This isn’t argy-bargy. They are well versed in how to provoke people,” he said.

“They are just spoiling for a fight and are constantly trying to rattle.”
Mr Molhoek said Mr Flori had also intimidated one of his long-term volunteers, a 70-year-old woman, who told the Gold Coast Bulletin through tears Mr Flori said “awful things” to her.

A volunteer for Southport MP Rob Molhoek responds to a Rick Flori supporter. Photo: Supplied

“I’ve not seen anything like it in all my years. You expect a bit of passion but you don’t expect them to be picking on elderly people,” Mr Molhoek said.

Candidate for Southport Mr Flori claims Mr Molhoek called Mr Flori “Rick the d**k” but incumbent Mr Molhoek said Mr Flori started it by calling him “Rob the knob”. Photo by Richard Gosling

Flori is awaiting trial after being charged with misconduct in 2014 for allegedly leaking police footage to the media of a prisoner being handcuffed and beaten in the basement of a Gold Coast police station two years earlier.

He has previously indicated he will fight the charges.

Mr Flori told the Gold Coast Bulletin Mr Molhoek was playing “childish games”.

“These are childish games and constant rhetoric are the whole reason nothing is getting done in government,” he said.

“These are the people that have been chosen to be our voice and they are barking on with behaviour that’s not even acceptable in a daycare centre.

“Maybe Mr Molhoek needs to go in the time-out corner until he can learn to behave.”