Groups contesting Townsville council election dominated by Labor Party members

Townsville’s council candidates have revealed their political party memberships in their election campaign disclosures. See which party was overwhelmingly represented.

Leighton Smith

@LeightonESmith

2 min read

February 20, 2024 - 6:24PM

Townsville Bulletin

Townsville's mayoral and councillor candidates contesting the 2024 local government election. Pictures: Supplied.

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Townsville’s local government candidates have listed their links to political parties and organisation memberships in their disclosures to Electoral Commission Queensland, revealing a field dominated by Queensland Labor Party members.

With the exception of Division 9 candidate Benjamin Tiley, who nominated as a candidate endorsed by a registered political party – Queensland Greens – every other Townsville candidate nominated without the backing of a party.

Of the two groups that were registered to campaign collectively, execute common policies, and achieve shared goals if elected to council, both Team Jenny Hill and Change have majorities of Queensland Labor members.

Lead by incumbent Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill, Team Jenny Hill’s candidates affiliated with the Labor Party include the mayor, Shari Fabbro, Mark Molachino, Kurt Rehbein (uncontested), and Liam Mooney, while Ben Fusco is a member of Katter’s Australian Party.

Shari Fabbro, Ben Fusco, Rachael Armstrong, Suzy Batkovic, Kurt Rehbein, Jenny Hill, Mark Molachino, Liam Mooney, Ann-Maree Greaney, Russ Cook, and Margie Ryder are members of group Team Jenny Hill. Picture: Supplied.

In former-councillor Paul Jacob’s Change group, every candidate is a member of the Labor Party, with the exception of Guy Reece.

Of the other mayoral and non-group candidates, none had political party links except Brady Ellis, who is a member of the Liberal National Party.

Unions dominated the trade and professional organisation memberships declared by Team Jenny Hill and Changes candidates.

Jake Farrell, Paul Jacob, Guy Reece, Vera Dirou, and Jai Philpots are members of the group Change contesting the 2024 Townsville local government election. Picture: Supplied.

For Team Jenny Hill, Margie Ryder belongs to the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD), Mark Molachino, Kurt Rehbein and Liam Mooney are in the Labor Forum, with Mr Rehbein also in the United Firefighters Union Queensland, and Mr Mooney in the Australian Workers Union.

Change’s candidate Paul Jacob belongs to the United Workers Union, Jai Philpots with Australian Services Union, Together Union, and Australian Psychological Society, with Jake Farrell and Vera Dirou in the Community and Public Sector Union.

Townsville candidates at ECQ's office for the ballot draw. Picture: Leighton Smith.

The Greens’ Mr Tiley joined the Retail and Fast Food Workers Union, while independents Andrew Robinson was in AICD and Certified Practising Accountant Australia, and Michael Edmonds in the Queensland College of Teachers.

Election day is March 16, with early voting beginning on March 4 and running until March 15 (excluding the weekend).

For more information, visit: www.ecq.qld.gov.au