Currumbin hopefuls must end bitterness and jealousy

THE candidates of the two major parties for the Currumbin byelection are obviously more interested in mudslinging, infighting and personal photography than in presenting and justifying policies which will adequately represent their electorate.

Worse still, their campaign teams have such a low opinion of their audience that they think the audience shares those interests.

The letterbox literature has become so toxic and personal that it’s difficult for the public to figure out whether it’s mudslinging the other party or infighting within its own ranks.

Either way, these parties continue their venomous fights in the public arena expecting to gain followers.Why do they have such a low opinion of the public that they think we will accept their behaviour? Are their policies and practices so indefensible that they think they can win a seat in parliament just by smearing the other party?

The street signage also conveys striking bitterness and jealousy. The party campaign staff who write the wording and compile the posters seem to be motivated by bitterness and jealousy rather than a desire or ability to win a seat based on the party’s merits.

Why should voters want government representatives who go along with the slander and venom designed by their campaign teams, and those who trash our streetscapes with their over-done selfpromotion? Do we want to vote for people who display these qualities in public and might display worse qualities if they were to be elected?

Not me. I, for one, will be looking to candidates whose policies display their party’s thorough analysis and understanding of the real challenges to Queensland’s and Currumbin’s currently uncertain future.

I, for one, won’t be voting for candidates whose campaigns display negativity, vindictiveness, bitterness and jealousy.