UAP candidate says residents are “concerned” about Independent Jack Dempsey’s database

Bundaberg council’s CEO and its mayor-turned federal election candidate Jack Dempsey have denied ratepayer database details have been accessed after locals received political propaganda via private email.

Bundaberg Regional Councils CEO Steve Johnson says he’s “confident” no ratepayer databases were accessed by the team running mayor Jack Dempsey’s federal election campaign.

It comes after a number of residents complained they had received “unsolicited” campaign emails they never signed up for.

Rival candidate Kristie Nash, from the United Australia Party, also claims she has been “inundated” with calls from residents in the Hinkler electorate who say they have received these emails and letters from Mr Dempsey.

Ms Nash said in a statement every person who contacted her about this situation said they had never requested information from Mr Dempsey or subscribed to his campaign website.

“Everyone who has contacted me is concerned that the Bundaberg Regional Council’s ratepayer database may have been the source of the email and postal data,” Ms Nash said in the statement.

“Or, that Mr Dempsey has used his time as mayor to collect email addresses from people who have contacted him directly, in his capacity as mayor, about community issues.

“People are rightly concerned that their private and confidential data may have been accessed for a purpose not consented to.

“Integrity and transparency within government is one of the key issues of the 2022 federal election.

UAP candidate Kristie Nash says she has been inundated with calls from local residents regarding “unsolicited” emails from independent federal candidate, Jack Dempsey.

“I call on Mr Dempsey to immediately identify the source of the database for his email and postal campaign to the electorate of Hinkler, so that voters can judge for themselves Mr Dempsey’s actions.

“In this day and age, privacy is taken very seriously by government departments at all levels.

“If Mr Dempsey has used his role as mayor to inappropriately collect information about his constituents, then the community has a right to know.”

Members of the community also took to Facebook to air their frustrations about the mass emails.

One user, who posted to the Bargara Facebookers group, claimed her email could only have been accessed via the council.

“Just received an email advertising Jack Dempsey as an Independent. My email could only have been obtained from the Bundaberg Now (the council’s community news website) or BRC newsletter subscriptions. I wonder if this is legal using email database owned by council. I somehow doubt it,” she said.

Another Facebook user took to the Bundaberg Community Group with a similar concern.

Bundaberg Regional Council CEO Steve Johnston said he was “confident” no Council databases had been accessed to obtain resident’s personal email addresses.

“How many people received and email from the mayor regarding his election campaign? I didn’t sign up for anything so was there an email list purchased or were peoples details taken from a council database?”, they said.

Team Jack responded to concerns raised by Ms Nash, saying they sent the material because they were allowed to.

“Political parties and candidates are allowed to send mass communications. It’s part of making people aware of their policies and platforms,” a Team Jack spokesman said.

“Craig Kelly did it with Clive Palmer’s money, Keith Pitt did it with taxpayers’ money.

“The campaign team engaged an external consultant to create a database and send an email newsletter. No information was provided to them, except some addresses for people who had offered them.

“People may unsubscribe if they wish and won’t receive any further communications.

“It’s one click to unsubscribe or delete.”

The NewsMail asked Team Jack to further clarify who the external consultant was that obtained and distributed the email addresses of Bundaberg residents for his campaign, but this request was rejected.

“We won’t be commenting on campaign operations,” the spokesman said.

“People who don't wish to receive future communications can unsubscribe in one click and no trees will be harmed, unlike the bulk mail-outs by (Hinkler’s incumbent LNP member Keith) Pitt.”

The NewsMail asked Bundaberg Regional Council if it was confident no council databases containing the personal contact details of residents had been accessed to assist Jack Dempsey’s federal campaign.

“Yes, I am confident that council databases have not been accessed for the release of the information,” CEO Steve Johnson said.

The federal election will be held on Saturday, May 21.

Originally published as UAP candidate says residents are “concerned” about Independent Jack Dempsey’s database