Signs of animosity
LNP supporters anger Bonney independent
OUTSPOKEN Bonney independent candidate Ron Nightingale has complained to police about LNP rival Sam O’Connor and his supporters waving placards along a busy road.
In the first sign the new Gold Coast seat will be the hardest fought on the Glitter Strip, Mr Nightingale this week made a formal complaint to Arundel police beat.
In a letter to Mr O’Connor, he wrote: “Your antics at Arundel yesterday are inexcusable. You broke the law and put drivers at risk. You failed to instruct your supporters properly and therefore you must take responsibility.”
The courier driver attached a copy of rules about election signage on roads and said he only decided to complain after receiving 32 telephone calls from residents.
“I did not expect you to cause me problems on Father’s Day while I was trying to enjoy my day with my family, I am disappointed,” he wrote.
Mr O’Connor said he had been doorknocking and not on the footpath at Napper Road where his supporters were campaigning.
“My supporters did nothing wrong,” Mr O’Connor said. “Roadside info booths have been and will continue to be part of how we listen to our community.”
Mr Nightingale said LNP supporters were standing 10 metres from the merging lane on Napper Rd, causing a distraction for residents leaving a nearby retirement village.
Supporters and opponents have clashed on Mr Nightingale’s Facebook page following his decision not to continue working as a campaign manager for Coast candidates including Brendan Ball in Broadwater.
“You were One Nation’s Gold Coast campaign manager and Brendan Ball’s righthand man, right. Last week, your van was covered in Pauline Hanson stickers and now this,” one critic wrote.