FEELING THE BERN
Radio presenter takes on veteran councillor in firey division
VETERAN broadcaster Bern Young (below) is to take on veteran Palm Beach councillor Daphne McDonald at the city council election.
Ms Young, a long-time breakfast radio presenter, will officially launch her bid today for Division 13 which now includes Burleigh Heads.
“I’ve been watching as tension builds between development and the desire to maintain our relaxed lifestyle and local character, especially in the southern Gold Coast,” she says.
POPULAR Gold Coast morning radio presenter Bern Young is standing for city council in the firey Palm Beach division occupied by 30-year veteran Daphne McDonald.
The bombshell poll announcement will be made today after Ms Young, a presenter and journalist for more than 25 years, finalises existing work commitments at ABC 91.7.
She will nominate for Division 13, standing against Cr McDonald, a former Deputy Mayor and councillor since 1991.
“I am passionate about the Gold Coast and through my work I’ve developed a deep understanding of this city, the people who live and work here and the tourists who visit,” Ms Young said.
“I’m especially passionate about how we’re shaping and developing the Gold Coast.
“I’ve been listening and watching as the tension builds between development and the desire to maintain our relaxed lifestyle and local character, especially in the southern Gold Coast.”
Ms Young was at the council chambers before Christmas to report on City Plan changes which sparked a strong protest from Palm Beach residents about high-rise development.
She said she had checked on population projections from the 1990s when she first moved here, working as a television reporter, and realised the city always exceeded those forecasts.
“When they say we’ve got 350,000 people moving here by 2041, we can’t ignore that. We must plan for it today. Whatever we allow to be built, it must be done well, with the community in mind,” she said.
Cr McDonald is among several councillors yet to announce whether they will contest the poll. The division is also being contested by awardwinning writer and journalist Katrina Beikoff.
Ms Young believes her skill set will make a difference and get better outcomes for the city.
“I’m a proven communicator, which starts with listening. I will take community voices to the deliberation table and keep people informed with accurate, accountable information,” she said.
“My 25-years-plus experience as a journalist has involved asking questions and getting answers. I will continue to do that as a councillor to get the best outcomes.”
Ms Young, 48, and her partner Fletch live at Burleigh Heads. They have a young son and daughter. She was recently the state school’s Parents and Citizens Association president.
She admits the decision to stand forced her to deeply consider the complexities of political donations.
“I’ve seen a lot of candidates make a point of self-funding their campaign, no doubt because of the tainted image of political donations,” she said.
“I almost didn’t nominate because I never want my integrity compromised. However, I believe we can’t leave these elected positions only to people with enough money to participate.
“I’ve taken leave without pay, as per the ABC policy, so I’m self-funding my family expenses. I’ve made a deliberate decision to accept donations for campaign costs but with a clear distinction.
“No matter how small or large the donation, you are not buying influence, you are funding integrity.”
THE announcement today that leading ABC radio presenter Bern Young will stand for council injects some much-needed fresh air into the local government election campaign.
In the divisions, in contrast to the mayoralty, the last few days have witnessed the launch of campaigns by some excellent candidates.
On Friday, Surfers Paradise tourism leader Mike Winlaw and Coast businesswoman and community worker Karen Phillips announced they would stand in the new Division 10, an area which will cover Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach.
Former Mayor Gary Baildon is retiring in Surfers Paradise, and veteran councillor Paul Taylor due to health concerns will not run in Broadbeach.
Both Mr Winlaw and Ms Phillips are a good fit for the new super division. They are well known in tourism and marketing circles. Surfers Paradise needs a boost, and both candidates will offer numerous suggestions during the lead-up to the March 28 election on how council can give businesses a lift in the tourism hot spot.
Similarly, Ms Young will offer new ideas in Division 13, which will be a new southern super division of sorts, with the boundary changes moving the Palm Beach council area further north to include Burleigh Heads.
Daphne McDonald has been Palm Beach’s long-term representative. She was first elected in 1991 and held the position of Deputy Mayor from 2007 to 2012.
Councillor McDonald worked closely with former Mayor Ron Clarke, but is out of favour with current Mayor Tom Tate. If she stands again, as expected, Cr McDonald will face a torrid time from the current leadership group at City Hall as she continues to take a hard-line stance against light rail and high-rise development.
Writer and award-winning journalist Katrina Beikoff, who offers to bring “a smart and energetic, fresh approach” has been campaigning in Division 13.
An election campaign in a Gold Coast City Council division can cost between $10,000 and $100,000 with some candidates employing public relations companies and sending out glossy brochures.
The nomination of all these candidates is welcome because they are entrenched in the community, and their campaigns are rooted in a strong belief of being able to create some positive change in their own backyards. We are seeing in the divisions the emergence of “people candidates” not bankrolled by any vested interest.
The mayoral race, at this point, is more of the same.
Mayor Tom Tate won his second term in 2016 after funding his campaign at a cost of $182,000. The three candidates who have put up their hand are all running on an agenda which largely opposes his policies.
Health writer and businesswoman Mona Hecke has the biggest profile. Her Facebook page has 1588 “likes”. If social media is a guide, the other candidates, businessman Brett Lambert with 209 “likes” and Virginia Freebody with 587 “likes”, are behind in profiling.
Council due to boundary changes and retirements will see four fresh faces in the councillor ranks. This has guaranteed this poll will focus on new ideas.