Cairns Division 4 candidate Shane Cuthbert cops warning from Queensland’s election body

A controversial Cairns Regional Council candidate has confirmed his campaign activities are being scrutinised by Queensland’s election body.

Shane Cuthbert with Rob Pyne. Picture: Supplied

A controversial council candidate has confirmed his and others’ campaign activities are being scrutinised by Queensland’s election body.

Shane Cuthbert, a candidate for Cairns Regional Council’s Division 4, said he had received a “warning” letter from the Electoral Commission of Queensland.

According to a letter seen by the Cairns Post, the ECQ has implicated Mr Cuthbert and fellow councillor candidate Rob Pyne in group campaign activities without complying with relevant election policies.

“The Electoral Commission of Queensland has received information suggesting you may be engaged in group campaign activities,” the letter states.

“Under the Local Government Electoral Act 2011 … candidates must not engage in group campaign activities unless they are registered as a group.

“The ECQ has received information and examples of election material which appears to be group campaign activities.”

Division 4 candidate Shane Cuthbert said he had been issued a “warning” letter by the ECQ. Picture: Supplied

The ECQ letter cited election flyers posted to Mr Cuthbert’s website under the banner “independent dream team” and a subhead that stated: “Shane Cuthbert (Division 4), Rob Pyne (Division 5) … join forces as independents working together”.

Mr Cuthbert maintained he is running an independent campaign but in a loose association with other council candidates.

“We’re running as independents. We don’t have a group bank account. We don’t share volunteers,” he said.

“I guess the phrase ‘dream team’ indicates we are a team. We will be more clear in future about our wording.”

The ECQ took issue with campaign material that showed three council candidates – Rob Pyne, Shane Cuthbert and Pat O’Shane – presented as if they were running as the “independent dream team”. Ms O’Shane has since said she was no longer a candidate. Picture: Supplied

When asked how he thought the material was brought to the ECQ’s attention, Mr Cuthbert said: “there’s a lot of people who don’t want me to be successful”.
Mr Cuthbert has gained notoriety over a decade of committing crimes and subsequently serving at least six months jail time.
His most recent conviction was for a public nuisance offence in 2021 after entering a not guilty plea; he was sentenced to 50 hours unpaid community service.
Mr Cuthbert said he was reformed through community-focused work, such as volunteering with charities.

Shane Cuthbert and Pat O'Shane were running together in an alliance, but Ms O’Shane said she was no longer a candidate. Picture: Supplied

His association with Mr Pyne, who is currently the Division 2 councillor, over the past two years has been extensive; he credits Mr Pyne for suggesting he run for council.

Mr Pyne confirmed he had also received a letter from the ECQ.
He maintained he was an independent candidate that would continue to support other independents as the campaign rolled on.

“If people ring me asking me for help, I help them. That’s who I am,” he said.
“If the ECQ don’t like that, we’ll have that conversation with them at a later date.”
Former magistrate Pat O’Shane was also a candidate in alliance with Mr Cuthbert and Mr Pyne, but she said she was no longer a council candidate.
An ECQ spokeswoman said: “The ECQ is unable to comment on compliance activities which may or may not be in progress”.

Originally published as Cairns Division 4 candidate Shane Cuthbert cops warning from Queensland’s election body