Queensland could have 24 new mayors including the ‘weather girl’ who played a witch
A former bankrupt, an alleged drink driver, a weather presenter who once played a witch, and someone who once lived next door to Keith Urban are among the first time mayor contenders most likely to succeed in the Queensland council elections. SPECIAL REPORT
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A former bankrupt, an alleged drink driver, a weather presenter who once played a witch, and a former neighbour of musician Keith Urban are among those expected to take their place as Queensland’s newest mayors.
While counting is still under way, and preferences are yet to be allocated in super close seats, there could be as many as 24 new mayors leading the government closest to the people.
On the Sunshine Coast, Rosanna Natoli, dubbed ‘the weather girl’ by some voters, is among the most high profile in regional Queensland, being the female face of Seven Local News, as well as the husband of former Maroochy mayor Joe Natoli, who is a current division four councillor.
The idea of a husband and wife serving on the same council has sparked plenty of conversation, and even claims of ‘nepotism’ by rivals.
Mrs Natoli, who has been a journalism academic for years at the University of the Sunshine Coast, embarked on a listening tour of more than 70 events and locations to take a lead of a few thousand voters over popular rugby league identity Ashley ‘Tugboat’ Robinson.
She’s well known in social circles and the arts and even played the Wicked Witch in the Wizard of Oz a few years back
“Being the witch gives me the chance to be venomous and create mayhem – all without really hurting anyone,’’ she said at the time.
Up the road at Noosa and former Sunshine Coast Daily journalist Frank Wilkie looks likely to jump from councillor to mayor.
Mr Wilkie grew up in the northern suburbs of Brisbane where musician Keith Urban lived across the street.
He busked his way through University and Teachers’ College, before buying a house at Peregian Beach in 1994.
One of the biggest upsets is in Townsville, with a disendorsed state One Nation candidate and former bankrupt looking likely to topple incumbent and Labor-aligned Jenny Hill.
In 2020, Troy Thompson stood alongside Pauline Hanson as One Nation’s candidate for Thuringowa. But weeks before the election he “withdrew” citing personal reasons.
But it soon came to light via leaked documents that Mr Thompson had been disendorsed by the party following an executive meeting because he had failed to disclose his previous legal name and that he failed to disclose his directorship in a company that went insolvent in 2017.
It was also revealed that Mr Thompson had used a different name, Troy Joseph Birnbrauer, when he appeared in Southport Magistrates Court between 2017 and 2018.
He also made headlines after a political stunt at Parliament House in Brisbane when he plastered One Nation brochures over the door of Thuringowa MP Aaron Harper. Mr Thompson was found to be in contempt of parliament by the Ethics Committee and was banned from the parliamentary precinct.
In Aurukun, a dry community in Far North Queensland, the frontrunner to become the next mayor of has been charged with drink-driving.
Barbara Sue Bandicootcha, an independent, was leading the count on Monday afternoon at 43 per cent, ahead of incumbent mayor Keri Tamwoy on 34 per cent.
Ms Bandicootcha appeared in Aurukun Magistrates Court on Thursday, March 14 charged with driving a motor vehicle while over the middle alcohol limit.
In Bundaberg, Helen Blackburn’s defeat of former Qld police minister Jack Dempsey will be a sweet victory for the businesswoman and former president of a local ratepayers organisation who has courted controversy of her own through her colourful public life.
A former councillor and former soldier, Ms Blackburn forged a successful career with Telstra before opening an award-winning laser therapy business.
Some of Ms Blackburn’s more colourful views came to the fore during the height of the Covid pandemic when she publicly linked the Covid-19 vaccine with murder at an anti-vaccine mandate protest rally.
“We need to take a moment to think of those who have lost their lives for our freedom and those that have been murdered by this government and this stupid vaccine mandate,” she said at the time.
In Cairns, Amy Eden is the front runner to become the next mayor. Her campaign has also been coloured by controversy. Questions were levelled at her over an undeclared Cairns Cars partnership and claims she copied passages of a Toowoomba councillor’s social media post to run them as her own.
Aurukun – Barbara Sue Bandicootcha
The frontrunner to become the next mayor of Aurukun, a dry community in Far North Queensland, has been charged with drink-driving.
Barbara Sue Bandicootcha, an independent, was leading the count on Monday afternoon at 43 per cent, ahead of incumbent mayor Keri Tamwoy on 34 per cent.
Sixty per cent of the vote has been counted.
Ms Bandicootcha appeared in Aurukun Magistrates Court on Thursday, March 14 charged with driving a motor vehicle while over the middle alcohol limit while driving in Aurukun.
If someone is caught driving with an alcohol reading of 0.10 per cent or more, they will be charged with driving over the ‘middle alcohol limit’.
The high alcohol limit is 0.15.
Aurukun is a dry community under the Queensland State Government Alcohol Management Plan, so possessing alcohol (liquor) in the Aurukun Shire is an offence.
Ms Bandicootcha is listed online as chair of the Ngan Aak Kunch, Aboriginal Corporation, which represents and manages the Native Title Holders the Wik, Wik Waya and Kugu people of West Cape York.
The matter has been adjourned until April 11, 2024 at Aurukun Magistrates Court.
Aurukun Shire Council said Ms Bandicootcha had no comment to make over the charges.
Bundaberg – Helen Blackburn
New Bundaberg mayor Helen Blackburn’s defeat of former Qld police minister Jack Dempsey will be a sweet victory for the businesswoman and former president of a local ratepayers organisation who has courted controversy of her own through her colourful public life.
A former councillor, Ms Blackburn departed the inner circle of local government after losing convincingly to Mr Dempsey in the 2020 mayoral election.
Since then, Ms Blackburn used her position as president of the Bundaberg Regional Ratepayers Association to marshall opposition to Mr Dempsey over a range of issues that dogged him throughout his second term including a controversial $76m aquatic centre project.
A former soldier, Ms Blackburn forged a successful career with Telstra before opening an award-winning laser therapy business in Bundaberg.
Some of Ms Blackburn’s more colourful views came to the fore during the height of the Covid pandemic when she publicly linked the Covid-19 vaccine with murder at an anti-vaccine mandate protest rally.
“We need to take a moment to think of those who have lost their lives for our freedom and those that have been murdered by this government and this stupid vaccine mandate,” she said at the time.
Ms Blackburn has since distanced herself from the far-right, recently saying she was unaware she was a member of the Bundaberg chapter of the My Place movement that has been linked to holocaust denial, antisemitism and the anti-vax movement.
Burdekin – Pierina Dalle Cort
Ayr tourist agent Pierina Dalle Cort has claimed victory over Lyn McLaughlin to become the new mayor of Burdekin Shire.
Ms McLaughlin called to congratulate her on election night when 85 per cent of the votes had been counted.
“I’m excited and looking forward to it and working with a great bunch of people who have put their hand up,“ Mrs Dalle Cort said.
“Whoever comes in I’ll look forward to working with them all, that’s for sure.”
Cairns – Amy Eden
From being first elected to council on just four votes to striking out solo and forming her own team, Amy Eden’s ascent to the top job in Cairns is nothing short of remarkable.
Despite facing multiple challenges throughout an at-times rocky campaign, the first-term Division 5 councillor is expected to be elected the new Cairns mayor.
As of Monday, she was not declared, but was leading the votes 24,555 (30.7 per cent) ahead of incumbent Terry James on 19,134.
The former Unity member first gained entry to council in the 2020 local government election, defeating Richie Bates for the Division 5 piece by just four votes.
Soon after she defected and spent the rest of the term as a thorn in the Unity side, opposing efforts to introduce a tenant tax and ban dogs and fishing in the CBD while criticising council for making decisions behind closed doors.
Ms Eden hails from the Northern Territory but moved to the Far North in 2003, where she finished her social work studies and raised two kids with husband Nick.
Her bid to become the mayor has involved a number of bold promises including free year-round green waste disposal, a $1000 first home buyers rates relief and $2 summer swims at council pools.
She’s also run on a platform of making council transparent and accountable, with a promise to reduce red tape and restore community trust.
Ms Eden’s campaign has also been coloured by controversy. Questions were levelled at her over an undeclared Cairns Cars partnership and claims she copied passages of a Toowoomba councillor’s social media post to run them as her own.
Eyes were also drawn to a profanity-laden corflute dispute between former mayor Bob Manning and John Andrejic, a former Cairns council CEO who was volunteering for Team Eden.
Cassowary – Theresa Millwood
Popular councillor and former businesswoman Janice Moriarity is expected to unseat Central Highlands Regional Council Mayor Kerry Hayes, with the former clocking up 7,027 votes compared to Mr Hayes 4,973 with 68.78 per cent of the votes tallied. Terence Munns looks set to become the next Woorabinda Shire Council mayor, with Joshua Weazel choosing not to run again. Four people are running for the seat, but he already holds 44 per cent with 58 per cent of 552 votes counted.
Central Highlands – Janice Moriarity
It appears popular councillor and former businesswoman Janice Moriarity will unseat Central Highlands Regional Council Mayor Kerry Hayes, with the former clocking up 7027 votes compared to Mr Hayes 4,973 with 68.78 per cent of the votes tallied.
Cherbourg – Bruce Simpson
Bruce Simpson looks the likely winner having secured 52 per cent of the vote with about half the ballots counted. Incumbent mayor Elvie Sandow has received only 26 per cent support.
Cook – Robyn Holmes
In the local government area of Cook, Robyn Holmes is set to take the reins for the first time.
Douglas – Lisa Scomazzon
Lisa Scomazzon is another female first-time mayor with polls pointing to her taking Douglas.
Flinders – Kate Peddle
Just six votes separate new mayoral contender Kate Peddle and incumbent mayor Jane McNamara.
The former councillor identifies herself in her mayoral nomination as a homemaker, consultant and grazier.
Ms Peddle ran as an independent but previously had ties to Katters Australian Party members by previously serving as a political adviser, and Traeger MP Robbie Katter had shown support.
At the weekend Mr Katter posted a brief congratulatory message for Ms Peddle and called her efforts a “dignified campaign.”
Livingston – Adam Belot
Former Deputy Mayor Adam Belot is out in front. The battle for mayor of Livingstone Shire Council has turned into a two-horse race between incumbent Andy Ireland and deputy mayor Adam Belot. With 80 per cent of the vote counted, the first-time mayor was 400 votes behind the former businessman's 7141 tally. Despite a chorus for change from Livingstone voters, it is clear there were be no new faces at the head of the council table and very few new councillors.
Logan – Jon Raven
Father of two, 42, living in Waterford West Jon Raven was first elected as councillor in 2016. He was one of four councillors kept on as an adviser to an administrator in 2019 after the council was disbanded.
Mr Raven, a paid-up member of the Queensland Labor Party, has support from federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers, who played a role in getting the city a late-announced indoor Olympic boxing venue, and state treasurer Cameron Dick, who shares an office building with the federal treasurer.
This week, Mr Raven said: “it would be the first time there would be a member of the Labor Party as Mayor in Logan. I’m not an endorsed candidate, so I have to run as an independent, but it’s well known that I’m a member of the ALP.”
“I have actively campaigned within the party to keep endorsed tickets out of Logan. I’ve seen how divisive party politics is in Brisbane City Council. The community doesn’t want to see that in Logan and neither do I.”
Mackay – Too close to call
In Mackay, two mayoral candidates expect to be waiting for “the next few days” on election results, as early polling indicates preferences will decide the race. Greg Williamson, the incumbent, has a slim lead over Steve “Jacko” Jackson, a former NRL player and local businessman who's outspent and outraised his opponents significantly. That included a campaign video featuring Wally Lewis, Sam Thaiday, and Nathan Cleary endorsing him.
Maranoa – Wendy Taylor
Wendy Taylor says she had nothing to lose when she set her sights on beating Maranoa mayor Tyson Golder at the council election.
“The only reason I ran for mayor was because I didn’t want to be a councillor under this (leadership),” the first-term councillor, farmer and former small business owner said.
Ms Taylor is all-but-assured to be the next mayor of the region based around Roma in southwest Queensland, having secured nearly 48 per cent of first preferences.
“I’m a little bit shocked, (but) I had a fairly good feeling, we pre-polled for the past two weeks and I had received so much support that I felt I would give him a good run,” she said.
Ms Taylor savaged Mr Golder’s leadership during the campaign, along with the Unity Maranoa ticket of four other councillors that saw motions and initiatives passed with little scrutiny.
“When the community put the party in (in 2020), they thought it would be good, but there were five voices in that room that turned into one,” she told News Corp on Sunday.
“Whatever the mayor wanted, they put their hands up — I feel like the community realised they picked the wrong thing, so they’ve voted against that.“
Examples of transparency issues raised by Ms Taylor included concealing the price to buy the disused Roma Winery or buying a $190,000 defunct grain shed with no plan for its future use.
“Council needs to be run as a business, and it’s not my money, it’s the community’s money — (those examples are) not good business,“ she said.
McKinlay – Janene Fegan
Former deputy mayor Janene Fegan looks likely to take the top job, with 70 per cent of the vote and half having been counted as of Monday afternoon.
Ms Fegan was born in Cairns, was raised in Hawaii, and worked in healthcare in Townsville and Mackay before then working overseas.
After moving to Julia Creek she has raised a family, worked in health and also as a bartender, and manages the family’s electrical refrigeration and tyre business.
Mount Isa – Peta Macrae
With 60 per cent of the vote counted, incumbent councillor and small business owner Peta Macrae is likely to become the next Mount Isa mayor, having 34 per cent of the vote in a four-way race.
Incumbent mayor Danielle Slade is about 300 votes behind, while incumbent deputy mayor Phil Barwick is 900 votes behind Ms Macrae.
Noosa – Frank Wilkie
Former Sunshine Coast Daily and Noosa News journalist Frank Wilkie looks likely to jump from councillor to mayor.
Mr Wilkie grew up in the northern suburbs of Brisbane where musician Keith Urban lived across the street.
He busked his way through University and Teachers’ College, before buying a house at Peregian Beach in 1994.
Mr Wilkie gained his understanding of the Noosa region as a journalist and editor for several local and regional newspapers from 1996-2007.
It was in 2007 when he made the leap into politics and was appointed deputy mayor in 2016, a role he has retained before a run at the top job.
Redlands – Jos Mitchell
A mother of three Jos Mitchell moved to Redland after being a sustainable communities manager at Byron Shire Council from 2010 to 2014.
In that role, according to her online resume, she managed division budgets, managed staff, researched and wrote council reports and submissions, managed committees and community engagement and also managed the merger of divisions, along with writing policy.
She also spent 11 years as a police officer with the Queensland Police Service in metropolitan Brisbane and Central Queensland. She served as a general duties officer, police prosecutor and, for the last few years of her service, as a regional education and training officer, according to her online CV.
She is on the record for calling for greater transparency over the Weinam Creek overhaul and carpark and is anti-Toondah Harbour and against paying to maintain an Olympic whitewater venue at Birkdale.
“Based on the lack of evidence regarding the financial viability of the whitewater centre, and the history of these facilities running at a loss, I do not support the proposed facility. If state chooses to proceed, I will push for state government to shoulder the ongoing responsibility,” she said.
“Toondah Harbour: The vast majority of feedback has been that residents do not want the development in its current form. Most have indicated that some development in terms of ferry terminals and parking needs to occur but they do not want the Gold Coast-style development out into the wetlands and bay.”
“Weinam Creek: It is disappointing that council has not proactively worked with community and state government to try and progress this project sooner. Residents have been affected by the lack of parking for years and I want to see a workable solution reached as soon as possible.”
South Burnett – Kathy Duff
In the South Burnett incumbent Division 5 councillor Kathy Duff is expected to be named the region's new mayor, but not without the help of preferences. Ms Duff, a grazier and businesswoman who has served as a councillor for 20 years, is the front runner for the seat vacated by former mayor Brett Otto after claiming 41.5 per cent of the first count vote. This was well above her next closest challengers, former councillors Kirstie Schumacher and Gavin Jones, who had 24 per cent and 22 per cent support respectively.
Southern Downs – Melissa Hamilton
A commercial lawyer and water rights advocate looks set to unseat Vic Pennisi as mayor of the Southern Downs, promising to unify a region often considered divided between its two major centres.
Melissa Hamilton is polling very strongly against Mr Pennisi, leading 46-37 on first preferences that should deliver her the keys to City Hall.
Ms Hamilton’s win has been delivered mainly by big numbers in booths around Warwick and the north, with Mr Pennisi performing far better in and around Stanthorpe.
The two towns form the basis of a strong sense of division within the Southern Downs, and there have been pushes in the past to de-amalgamate Stanthorpe and Warwick.
Ms Hamilton said she wanted to be a unifying force within the council and the community.
“My campaign was based on independence, unity and respect, and that needs to be aimed for,” she said.
Among her many proposals, Ms Hamilton has pledged to “improve connections” between the council and community by assigning each councillor a specific geographic area along with portfolios, as well as address council’s high turnover of staff.
Housing, rates and water security are also key priorities.
“There are a lot of different issues (in this election), but when you came down to the bottom, it was a feeling there were missed opportunities and the basics were not done well,” Ms Hamilton told News Corp on Saturday.
Raised in central Queensland before working in mining, engineering and banking across her career, Ms Hamilton said she had never been affiliated with any party.
Sunshine Coast – Rosanna Natoli
A popular television presenter, long-time journalist, and university lecturer, Rosanna Natoli is in pole position to be mayor of the Sunshine Coast Council.
One of the more well known faces on regional Queensland TV, Mrs Natoli is a long-time Channel 7 presenter and socialite.
She is also the wife of former Maroochy mayor, Joe Natoli, who she could serve alongside on council. Mrs Natoli has lived on the Sunshine Coast since 1989 and has been a popular face on screens in the region since 1995.
She has also lectured in journalism at the University of the Sunshine Coast since 1999 where she has helped develop the next crop of professionals in an industry close to her heart.
Mrs Natoli is also a mother of three, with children Ruby, Mia, and Roman.
Tablelands – Rob Martin
Rob Martin is poised to take Tablelands for the first time.
Townsville – Troy Thompson
In Townsville, a disendorsed state One Nation candidate and failed businessman is set to topple incumbent and Labor-aligned Jenny Hill.
In 2020, Troy Thompson stood alongside Pauline Hanson as One Nation’s candidate for Thuringowa. But weeks before the election he “withdrew” citing personal reasons.
But it soon came to light via leaked documents that Mr Thompson had been disendorsed by the party following an executive meeting because he had failed to disclose his previous legal name and that he failed to disclose his directorship in a company that went insolvent in 2017.
It was also revealed that Mr Thompson had used a different name, Troy Joseph Birnbrauer, when he appeared in Southport Magistrates Court between 2017 and 2018.
He also made headlines after a political stunt at Parliament House in Brisbane when he plastered One Nation brochures over the door of Thuringowa MP Aaron Harper. Mr Thompson was found to be in contempt of parliament by the Ethics Committee and was banned from the parliamentary precinct.
Mr Thompson’s campaign platform as mayor of Townsville was based on a number of pledges if elected, including “accountability and transparency; local consequence for crime programs; improved roads, water and sewerage infrastructure; personal and business rates freeze for four years; increased support for elderly, disability and defence; sale of unnecessary council owned assets; reduced council debt; improved sport, art and recreational facilities; cleaner city and neighbourhoods and safer city and neighbourhoods”.
Mr Thompson ran with the tagline “if nothing changes, nothing changes”.
Woorabinda – Terence Munns
Terence Munns looks set to become the next Woorabinda Shire Council mayor, with Joshua Weazel choosing not to run again.
Four people are running for the seat, but he already holds 44 per cent with 58 per cent of 552 votes counted.
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