Meet the Whitsundays candidates for the mayorship and council
The 2024 local government elections will shake up the Whitsundays Regional Council after Mayor Julie Hall and Councillor Mike Bunker step down. SEE THE NEW CANDIDATES
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After two years as mayor of the Whitsundays, Julie Hall has made the decision not to run for re-election.
Elected in a 2022 by-election, Mrs Hall made an announcement on Facebook on February 6 saying “I have decided to put my health and family first”.
During her 18 month tenure, she was instrumental in working to fix the Shute Harbour Boat Ramp and replace the nearby fixed walkway with a floating walkway.
During her stint as mayor, she also worked closely with councillors to ensure rate rises were confined to 2 per cent during a time of increased expenses and inflation.
She also advocated for the development of the Bowen Wharf and the creation of new master plans for both Bowen beach and Airlie Beach.
Mrs Hall is looking forward to enjoying a “long-awaited holiday” after her short time at council.
Also absent from the election is Mike Brunker, who served as a councillor for more than 30 years including as a mayor of Bowen Shire, where he oversaw the amalgamation with the Whitsundays Regional Council, announced he was retiring from politics earlier this year.
In preparation for the March 16 election, meet the four new candidates for mayor and see who is running to be part of your council.
Philip Batty
Philip Batty, after decades of private citizenship in the Whitsundays, has decided he’s ready for more.
“I’m capable of being mayor,” Mr Batty said confidently.
Mr Batty, running for a number of reason, feels that council needs to be more “transparent” and “businesslike” in it’s dealing.
Over the course of 40 years he has worked in various tourism and hospitality positions from being the General Manager of Melbourne’s Crown Casino and Daydream Island to the Head of Hospitality at the 2012 London Olympics.
Mr Batty feels he’s contributed a lot to the Whitsundays claiming to have been a driving force behind getting the first Virgin flight from Sydney to Proserpine and bringing P & O cruises to Airlie 18 years ago.
The general manager of the Whitsundays Sailing Club at the time, he said that a P & O representative approached him and asked if he could introduce them to the mayor, so that they could discuss stopping at Airlie Beach.
He was “horrified” to discover that after seven weeks, there had been no progress.
“So I said ‘OK, I’ll deal with it’,” he said.
“I went to Mackay and asked the harbourmaster to plot a deep water anchorage at Airlie Beach.
“I spoke to every stakeholder, bus companies, tour companies, helicopter companies.”
Mr Batty describes being thanked by P & O’s General Manager personally.
More recently, in 2020 Mr Batty was the organising force behind the Airlie Beach Flash Mob video, which has 2 million impressions worldwide and over 6000 shares on Facebook.
If elected, Mr Batty has promised not to increase rates or utilities in 2024, aims to tackle the housing crisis and plans to make the Whitsunday Airport “internationally capable”.
“Others promise, I deliver.”
Richard Evans
Richard Evans a former politician and corporate executive who wants to bring unity to the Whitsundays as its mayor.
The Liberal MP for the federal division of Cowan in Western Australia from 1993 – 1998, Mr Evans decided to run after learning that mayor Julie Hall would not be seeking re-election.
From serving in parliament, to working for Wesfarmers, the Griffin Coal Mining Group and most recently, publishing his own political thriller novel Deceit in 2018, Mr Evans feels that he has the political and life experience needed to bring unity back to the Whitsundays.
“We need to bring the four towns of Bowen, Collinsville, Proserpine and the beach suburbs together, there’s been some arguments since the merger that some are more favoured than others.”
Mr Evans said he will be a strong advocate for the region at a local, state and federal level because of his over “40 years experience” with the political system.
Since moving to the Whitsundays, he has done pro bono work for the Chamber of Commerce and helped re-establish the Whitsundays Writers Festival.
He also volunteers for the Volunteer Marine Radio and is “actively” involved in mentoring small business owners.
If elected, Mr Evans wants to focus on delivering “the basics of council: rates, roads and recycling”.
Ry Collins
Ry Collins, after living in the Whitsundays for over five years, has put himself forward for the job of mayor.
Originally from the Gold Coast, Mr Collins has been involved primarily in construction management.
In Brisbane, Mr Collin’s worked on infrastructure construction projects before transitioning into work at MEGT, where he helped place newcomers to construction into apprenticeships.
Over the course of his career, he has worked in agriculture, training and economic development before going on to sit on the Regional Development Australia committee after he moved to the Whitsundays.
In Bowen he has served as the CEO of the Bowen Gumlu Growers Association and as director for the Greater Whitsunday Alliance in a voluntary capacity.
If elected, Mr Collins would like to work with the state government to address the housing crisis and “see what levers we can pull” to improve affordability.
Peter Hood
Peter Hood has announced he will be running for the seat of mayor in the upcoming election.
Mr Hood had already been a candidate for the mayoral seat at the 2022 by-election, which saw former One Nation candidate Julie Hall elected as mayor.
Mr Hood has lived in the Whitsundays for 25 years and has pursued a career as an accountant, a tax agent and as an asset manager auditor.
If elected mayor, Mr Hood says he wants to put his experience in this industry to use in his role, with a firm focus on reducing WRC rates and reviewing the council’s financial position.
Mr Hood also wants to advocate for all mayoral candidates to have to sit a 15 minute Basic Bookkeeping Exam to “qualify their eligibility” as the council represents “a $1.2 billion trading enterprise”.
Councillors
Division 1
Jan Clifford
Jan Clifford will remain the Councillor for Division 1 for the next four years.
Believing there’s still “a lot to be done”, Ms Clifford is certain the Whitsundays Regional Council could benefit from her “experience” and “dedication”.
A recipient of the Order of Australia, she has been an active member of the Airlie Beach community since moving there in 1994.
Ms Clifford has been a member of several development advocacy groups such as Save Our Foreshore, Loot for The Lagoon, Save Our Airport and was a member of the Airlie Beach Chamber of Commerce.
She has held the position of councillor on the Whitsunday Regional Council since 2008.
“I’m a full time councillor,” she said.
“We don’t do what we do for recognition, we do it for the community.”
In her next term as councillor, Ms Clifford is hoping to give Airlie Beach’s main street a “facelift”.
“It doesn’t stand up to the wear and tear of traffic,” she said.
“We could have thousands of people off a cruise ship at any time.”
Division 2
Clay Bauman
Cr Clay Bauman is seeking to return as a councillor in 2024 and looking forward to serving a full term.
Cr Bauman won his seat at a by-election in December 2022.
Raised in Brisbane, Bauman moved to Airlie Beach in 2007 and has lived in the Whitsundays since then.
He has integrated himself into the Whitsundays and Cannonvale community through his work with sporting clubs, his membership at the Whitsunday Sailing Club and his advocacy for maintaining the “beach town character” of Cannonvale.
Cr Bauman’s top priorities, if re-elected, are bringing a library to Cannonvale, as well as a civic centre, while also working with his fellow councillors to devise a new town plan.
Tony Price
Tony Price is looking to return to the Whitsundays council and bring the towns it governs closer together.
Mr Price owns and operates Proserpine and Cannonvale Tire Service as well as the Palace Hotel in Proserpine and has been doing business in the Whitsundays for over 45 years.
This is not Tony Price’s first time running in Division 2, having served as it’s councillor for two terms before.
“I’ve been on council before, I’ve got the experience,” Mr Price said.
Apart from his many business ventures, he is also passionate about rugby, having owned League Queensland, Queensland's only print rugby league magazine.
Furthermore, Mr Price has written almost a dozen books on the subject of rugby league in regional Queensland and wrote a complete history of Queensland’s rugby league.
Mr Price believes he can use his “contacts” from across the Whitsundays to foster greater connection and unity throughout the region.
Division 3
John Collins
Division 3 councillor John Collins has vowed continue pushing for development projects in his division.
Mr Collins is a long standing Proserpine resident who has started his career as councillor in 2012.
Mr Collins mentioned the Lake Proserpine Masterplan and Stage 1 development, the Proserpine Entertainment Centre and the Proserpine Water Park as highlights of his time in office.
Mr Collins said he would continue to advocate for projects such as bringing a new RV Park for the town, rebuilding the Wilsons Beach Swimming Enclosure or finding “new ways for the younger generation to enjoy their spare time”.
The closure of the Proserpine RV Park had been a disappointment for the councillor, when he was outnumbered on votes not to renew the lease on the land last year.
“I’m proud to say that I’ve achieved some major projects for Proserpine and surrounds, but I’m not going to sit here and promise the world to be re-elected,” Mr Collins said.
“The cost of living is worse than we’ve ever seen, and my goal is to keep rates as low as possible for residents.”
Division 4
Michelle Wright
Division 4 councillor Michelle Wright has confirmed she will run for the same seat after finishing her first term.
Ms Wright is a Bowen local and has a background working for the Department of Transport and Main Roads, while being a councillor runs in the family as her dad was once a councillor too.
Ms Wright said the highlights of her role so far was making progress on upgrading roads in her division, such as the Richmond Rd floodway upgrade or the Collinsville Main Street upgrade.
She also cited the Collinsville Water Park and the more recently adopted Mullers Lagoon Park Masterplan as highlights, stating that The Lagoon Park was ready for funding “if it becomes available”.
Ms Wright said her division was very large and her role involved driving many hours to get to remote communities and listen to people’s concerns.
“Being a local, I have that background knowledge, and a good grasp on the issues in the community,” she said.
“I love the people that I work with every day.”
Division 5
Gary Simpson
Cr for Division 5 Gary Simpson has announced he would run again for councillor after finishing his first term that started in 2020.
Mr Simpson said if he was re-elected, his focus would be on pushing the Galbraith Park Library Community Centre and the development of walking tracks between Dingo Beach and Hydeway Bay.
Mr Simpson, who is a cane farmer from Strathdickie, said he initially ran for councillor as he had “as much local knowledge as anyone else”.
“I know there’s a lot of things you can’t do in local government,” he said.
“(But) it’s good to be around the table and make some decisions.”
Mr Simpson said he wanted to keep going for another term as it already takes a long time for councillors to understand what their role entails and he is only starting to get the hang of it.
“I’ve learnt a lot in the last few years, it takes a bit to get your head around how local government works,” he said.
“Things happen really slowly in local government especially if the state’s involved.
“I felt I should put my hand up for another four years.
“Hopefully if the ratepayers in my division support me, it’s a privilege to represent them.”
Division 6
John Finlay
John Finlay will stand as councillor for Division 6 at the 2024 local elections.
Mr Finlay, who studied Professional Accounting and Local Government at the University of Southern Queensland, started getting involved in council politics all the way back in 1979 when he was in Bundaberg, and moved to work at the Bowen Shire Council in 1996.
Mr Finlay accessed the Chief Executive Officer position at the Whitsunday Regional Council in 2008, to which he had resigned in November 2012, to “pursue new pathways”.
Mr Finlay, who runs an accounting firm, has been treasurer for the Bowen Community Centre, treasurer for the Soccer Club and is involved in the Bowen Christian Family Centre.
Mr Finlay said it was time to get involved again in council after Cr Mike Brunker announced he was calling it quits on politics, and after having more flexibility with his accounting firm.
Mr Finlay said he would bring to the council table a background in accounting, as well as various experiences working in councils over the years.
“I know how council operates, I’ve run one myself,” he said.
When asked what he would do if elected, Mr Finlay said he would not be promising anything.
“What you have to do is just review where council is at on a number of things, and if there’s suggestions you can make, then you do so.”
David Paddon
David Paddon “loves” living in Bowen and is running to become it’s next councillor.
Before coming to Bowen, Mr Paddon worked at an international marketing firm in London where he oversaw his clients marketing strategies in 43 countries.
During his tenure as Marketing Director, Mr Paddon saw a $1.5 billion increase in yearly turnover over 9 years.
“We had good long term planning,” Mr Paddon said.
After running his own successful company in Sydney, he decided to “retire” to Bowen where he started another business.
After several years he decided to run for council after his wife urged him to “do some real work”.
If elected, Mr Paddon wants to encourage economic growth in Bowen particularly.
“If we can grow the economy by just 200 people, that’ll give us a boost,” he said.
“I’m not there to look after garbage, sewage or holes in the road, that’s the role of the CEO.
“I’m there to look after our future direction.”
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