Plea for transparency
THE State Government is being asked to reform election laws to ensure candidates in the Gold Coast council poll admit to belonging to a political party on promotional material.
Division 6 candidate and business operator Jo Sherline said it was wrong for many candidates to use the words “independent candidate” as it was misleading to the public.
A Bulletin report this month revealed an LNP member was organising a Senator to launch her fundraising campaign and at least two LNP members were running in the Southport division.
Ms Sherline said residents wanted to know which candidates were from political parties and their biggest frustration had been to discover non-independents standing.
“People want the truth and they deserve full transparency. The feedback I am getting is people want local government to remain fully independent and party free,” Ms Sherline said.
Party politics was creeping into the local government level and ratepayers on the Coast were strongly opposed to it, she said.
“We risk losing quality candidates just because they want to remain independent.
“I’m 100 per cent independent, no hidden party memberships, no hidden agendas. I don’t want to cloud my judgment on a particular issue because of toeing the party line. I’m doing it because I see real major issues in Division 6 and I believe with my experience I can get things done and make a difference.”
Ms Sherline predicted a backlash at the March 28 poll from voters who became aware some candidates were not independent.
“Around half the field in Division 6 have some sort of party affiliation but interestingly all are claiming to be independent,” she said.
“There is nothing wrong with being a member of a political party, just own it, be upfront, be transparent and inform the voters.”
The Government should enact laws that required candidates to clearly state on any marketing material if they were a member of a political party, Ms Sherline said.
“In the same way we have to state who authorised the advertisement, we should state party memberships. It’s too late for this election. Voters must to do their homework and to consider each candidate carefully.”