Douglas Shire candidate Michael Joseph Rees’ corflutes defaced with homophobic slurs

A Far North local government election candidate has received a widespread outpouring of support from residents after his corflutes were defaced.

A Douglas Shire Council candidate whose corflutes were defaced with words including homophobic slurs has been encouraged by the outpouring of support he’s received.

Police confirmed a 74-year-old Mossman man had been charged with five counts of wilful damage on March 3, allegedly damaging signs on Mossman Daintree Road around 4pm.

He is set to appear in the Mossman Magistrates Court on March 27.

“I was shocked because it’s so unlike the Douglas Shire for me to experience something like that,” Mr Rees said.

He has lived in the shire for 22 years as an openly gay man.

“The range of people who’ve reached out to give me support, cane farmers, construction workers, it has actually been quite phenomenal – people are just as perplexed and confused as I am about this behaviour,” he said.

The corflutes of openly gay candidate for Douglas Shire Council, Michael Joseph Rees, were defaced with homophobic slurs. A 74-year-old man has been charged with wilful damage. Picture: Supplied

“We are a democracy, we’ve had a precarious time with floods and road closures and now an election, the community is really raw, they feel especially confused and upset by it.

“I am focused on my candidacy and I know I will be fine, but I have written a victim impact statement to send a clear message to the alleged offender that the whole community, including myself, will not stand for this.

“It is the antithesis of who we are, we are diverse, open, accepting, we avoid a lot of the problems other regional areas have, which is why it is especially shocking.”

Mr Rees is among 12 candidates vying for a seat on Douglas Shire Council at the March 16 election.

Incumbent councillors Roy Zammataro, Pete McKeown and Abigail Noli are standing for re-election while deputy mayor Lisa Scommazon is standing against David Haratsis and Stacey Wilkinson for mayor.

Other electoral candidates for Douglas Shire are Chris Barber, Bill Allison, Peter Wood, Sara Mulcahy, Damian Meadows, Jeremy Blockey and Pia McKeown.

All are independent.

Originally published as Douglas Shire candidate Michael Joseph Rees’ corflutes defaced with homophobic slurs