Mayor Williamson recruits seven new candidates for Mackay council

From the ashes of the Williamson Alliance, Mayor Greg Williamson has put together a new team of candidates for the 2024 election. See what his former team had to say.

From the ashes of the Greg Williamson alliance rises Team Williamson. Photo: Fergus Gregg

Mayor Greg Williamsons has started a new team after parting ways with his previous team in a bid to win the upcoming election.

Rising from the ashes of his old alliance, he will now be leading Team Williamson — not the Williamson Alliance — a new political group made up of former team members and new candidates.

“It’s really important to get the right people around the at the table for the next four years,” Mayor Williamson said.

“The next four years are going to be critical for the development of the Mackay region and this is a team for the region.

“It’s a team that recognises a huge amount of diversity.

“We’ve got very experienced people in Mackay industries and people who have been community leaders.

“We’ve got people who are young and female.”

Mayor Williamson has rebuilt his team of candidates after the majority of his former political team announced their intentions to break with him and run as independents in 2024.

Cr Fran Mann, Cr Justin Englert and Cr Belinda Hassan, broke from the Williamson Alliance ahead of the 2024 elections Picture: Michaela Harlow

Joining Deputy Mayor Karen May and Councillor Michelle Greene on Team Williamson, are Stephen Cutting, Ash-Lee Johnson, Joshua Thornton, Neil Wallace and former Mayor of the Belyando Shire Council Peter Freeleagus.

“We’ve got young people Joshua and Ash-lee who are representative of a new demographic in council,” said Mayor Williamson, noting 30 year old Johnson and 34 year old Thornton.

Mayor Greg Williamson has reiterated his focus on community and growth ahead of the March 2024 elections. Photo: Fergus Gregg

“We’ve got Neil Wallace who’s been instrumental in the community.

“We’ve got the diversity, the youth, the experience and a continuation of the last few terms, represented on Team Williamson.”

Mayor Williamson has defined his teams focus as primarily being on growth.

“Our policies are around supporting the growth of the community,”

“We have to grow the rate base, that means attracting new people to Mackay.

“We’ll deliver what the ratepayers can afford to pay for.”

When asked about why three members of his political team had broken ties with him, Mayor Williamson responded, “You should ask them”.

“Unfortunately when councillors go off the focus on community, there can be interpersonal plays that they don’t agree with, that’s up to them”.

“I’m disappointed that he said that,” said Councillor Belinda Hassan, a former Williamson Alliance member.

“My focus is 100% on the community and I’ll give anyone a list of what I’m doing in the community daily.”

Another former Williamson Alliance member, Councillor Pauline Townsend, took offence at the Mayor's statement.

“He has done himself a big disservice,”

“One of the reasons he picked me for his team was that he knew how community focused I am.

“The community know the work that I have done and I’ve not lost my focus.

“Greg will be judged by his words in March.”

A list on the candidates currently announced for the March local elections can be found here.

Originally published as Mayor Williamson recruits seven new candidates for Mackay council