MAYORAL TILT FOR FOOTY GREAT
TOWNSVILLE’S newest mayoral contender insists he is independent of Clive Palmer’s political outfit and hasn’t discussed financial backing with the mining magnate.
Former State of Origin great and Townsville businessman Greg Dowling — a member of the United Australia Party — yesterday used his birthday to announce he would run for mayor.
His “snap decision” means there are now three declared candidates ahead of the March 28 council election.
Mr Dowling yesterday declared: “Enough is enough” and it was a “time for change in Townsville”.
Mr Dowling has vowed to “restore jobs and prosperity” to the region.
The businessman and former footy player, whose tilt at the federal seat of Herbert for Palmer’s UAP last year drew 5.7 per cent of the vote, will campaign as an independent out of a Palmer-owned building and said the billionaire would back him – “as a mate”.
A spokesman for Mr Palmer confirmed a funding package, dollar figure unknown, was on its way.
Mr Dowling, who said he was a “straight-shooter”, wants Townsville to prosper again by making the city attractive to investors, and will focus on job creation and future opportunities for the city.
He is yet to develop a full policy platform after only deciding to run two weeks ago.
Mr Dowling has also called out to people with “real life skills” to join him in his race for Walker St.
“I think we have a responsibility as leaders of the community to keep (job creation) in focus,” he said.
“Council is in charge of our development, rates, (these are) things that affect business.”
Mr Dowling said he supported the reopening of Queensland Nickel’s refinery, and claimed its closure in 2016 “sent a shudder through the community” and is what sparked Townsville’s current state of “doom and gloom”.
He doesn’t understand the “council’s beef” with QNI, once the largest private employer in Townsville.
Townsville City Council has taken Queensland Nickel to court in a bid to recover $2.5 million in unpaid rates and water charges.
THREE INDEPENDENTS
Asked if incumbent Jenny Hill and candidate Sam Cox should be worried about their respective tilts, Greg Dowling said “yeah”.
“I’ll be stating the facts. I can assure you the people of Townsville won’t be fooled,” he said.
Cr Hill, a Labor Party member but also an independent candidate, said she feared her newest opponent could use different tactics and with an “unlimited pot of money” could cripple her grassroots campaign.
She declared Team Jenny Hill were now “underdogs” in the election race.
“As far as I’m concerned, our campaign is about the people of Townsville,” she said.
Mr Cox, a former LNP MP and One Nation candidate in the 2017 state election, said the Townsville council didn’t need someone “shackled by political allegiances”.
Mr Dowling has rejected both notions.
“I am an independent, I have no ties to any party,” he said.
He remains a UAP member, but only because he hadn’t thought about his membership since the 2019 federal election.
He said he would “probably let it go”.
He added:
“If Clive wants to donate I’m not going to say no. It will all be declared, it will all be upfront. ”
A spokesman for Mr Palmer said: “Anybody is allowed to contribute to political finance, it’s all
transparent, there will be a number of corporates that contribute and Clive’s one of them.”
Mr Dowling and Queensland LNP president Dave Hutchinson were also spotted meeting in Townsville on Tuesday, though both men said it was in a personal capacity and their discussions were mainly about rugby league.
Mr Palmer spent upwards of $60 million during the federal election campaign on advertising, a move that Labor has acknowledged contributed to their shock loss.
In that election, Mr Dowling’s tilt in Herbert for the UAP drew 5.7 per cent of the total vote, which was higher than the 3.5 per cent average for the party nationally.
I think we have a responsibility as leaders of the community to keep (job creation) in focus
GREG DOWLING