Ousted Labor MP turned Redland City mayoral candidate Don Brown has sensationally pledged to cut the number of bayside councillors from 10 to six to save ratepayers millions of dollars.
Brown, who served as the former state member for Capalaba for nearly 10 years, threw his hat into the local mayoral race last week after former Redlands mayor Jos Mitchell quit her post amid claims of bullying and harassment.
In his pitch to voters, Brown promised to oppose the proposed Olympic whitewater centre at Birkdale and “end the infighting, fix the mess and get council back to basics”.
He went further on Wednesday with a plan to cut the number of Redlands councillors, which he said would save ratepayers an estimated $2.4 million over a four-year term.
“In Brisbane, each councillor represents around 32,500 voters,” Brown said.
“In Ipswich, it’s approximately 19,500. Yet in Redlands, each councillor represents only around 12,000 voters.
“Reducing the number of Redland City councillors from 10 to six would mean approximately 20,000 voters per councillor, bringing us into line with Ipswich.
“As mayor, I will formally seek the support of the Queensland Local Government Minister and the Electoral Commission of Queensland to deliver this reform.”
Local Government Minister Ann Leahy has been contacted for comment.
Brown is one of five candidates to put their hand up for the position following Mitchell’s sudden resignation.
While he has seized on the bullying and harassment claims surrounding Mitchell’s exit, promising to end political infighting if elected, the former state MP has not been without his own controversy.
In 2023, Brown paid his 2020 LNP opponent Bev Walters $50,000 to settle a defamation matter after he made remarks about her wanting to open borders during COVID-19 closures “because she owns a travel agency”.
Other candidates to express interest in the job include acting mayor Julie Talty, councillor Rowanne McKenzie (an ally of Talty), former One Nation and Trumpet of Patriots candidate Gary Williamson and local lawyer Jasmine Person.
More councillors are expected to enter the race, with insiders estimating up to five others could run. Should any win, a second byelection would be needed to fill their council seat.
Leahy said her department would work with the commission to organise an election but would avoid sending voters to the poll during the Christmas period.
“A key priority throughout this process is to ensure the residents of the Redlands community have a local government that works for them,” she said last week.
“I would encourage anyone considering standing for election as mayor to understand the commitment to the community that such a role entails.”
Brown said the money saved from fewer councillors would be redirected into community sporting facilities, local infrastructure and services “families actually use”, such as free green waste disposal on weekends.
“It’s time to clean up the mess, reduce the number of politicians and put ratepayers first,” he said.
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Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: www.smh.com.au
