Sour Grapes—$636K a kilo

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There is a story circulating which was published in the Brisbane Times on Saturday 4 October at 6am, suggesting I have received government grant funding.

An offer to host a grant program awarded to Busy at Work (who get paid to run the program) on property part-owned by myself, was rejected by us over a month ago. We do not believe the model for the grant program is capable of achieving the objectives for the program and advised their funding agency of this outcome.

There is no money!

The journalist chose to ignore the facts provided to sensationalise the story.

This has also been the case with the leading commentators on social media— a group who campaigned against me in the local government elections and against Rebecca Young MP in the state election.

Their simple objective is to smear.

To clarify, I have never been affiliated with the LNP and stood as an independent in the 2024 election. Jos Mitchell’s Leading Change Team (actively supported by the then state member, Kim Richards and members of the ALP) selected Hilton Travis to run against me. Because I am independent and not ALP-affiliated, I have been labelled LNP. This is not true!

Former state ALP members with Hilton Travis and a Leading Change member

If people have evidence to indicate illegal or corrupt behavior they should take it to the relevant authorities, not make baseless assertions to undermine projects that are seeking to do good in the community.

The property

Plans to purchase the named property on Russell Island, commenced prior to the local government elections, with the intent of providing affordable accommodation for older women wanting to remain on the island and for survivors of domestic violence.

The partnership is our way of giving back to the community.

The property consists of six basic cabins, a shed (all now gutted) and a house. Our plan is to retain the existing footprint and restore the cabins to fit-for-purpose residences for older women. The house will provide a central communal hub for them and also for other community groups to avail the space. This has been communicated to the neighbours from day one and we have their ongoing support.

We are 100% funding our own way and plan to commence the refurbishment works into 2026, when we have proceeds from selling other assets and the time and effort to do so. There has never been a monetary transaction between the government (or their agencies) and us for the betterment of this property. If anything, we have lost money in providing free training rooms to the Busy at Work team and supplying tools and incidentals to their trainees.

The purpose

Many of us know someone experiencing or recovering from domestic violence. My older sister did not survive domestic violence. If there had been domestic violence support services in the country town where she lived, my niece wouldn’t have grown up without a mother and a father. My niece’s children and grandchildren would have known their nana and great grandmother.

Single older women are one of the fastest growing groups experiencing housing stress. Gender pay-gaps, lower wages in female dominated industries and career interruptions for unpaid caregiving have left many women with insufficient retirement savings and many older women struggle to maintain housing. On SMBI we also see many older single women having to leave the islands because of the lack of supported accommodation.  

Most of my career was in health and human services in both direct and management positions.  I have worked in housing, mental health, disability, child protection, aged care and community legal services.  I have set up and managed housing programs in the community. My qualifications and experience are listed on my website and Linkedin profile.

Many of us give back to the community in ways that we can, whether volunteering our time, donating or giving our neighbours a hand.  We are in a fortunate position of being able to do this project as our giving back to the community.

Meetings with Rebecca Young MP

The article and social media critics have suggested that having up to eight meetings with Rebecca Young MP over the past 11 months is a problem.  The bigger problem is that this is clearly not enough for the challenges facing Redlands and SMBI. The biggest problem of all is that the previous government did not work closely enough with local council and engaged in a blame game.

Rebecca and I meet regularly—one-on-one and with the community—to discuss local issues and how these can be resolved.  Rebecca, Amanda Stoker MP, Russell Field MP and Henry Pike MP also meet regularly with the other divisional councillors in their areas. This is what effective government should be like.

There are many city, Redland Bay and SMBI challenges that cross over federal, state and local government that I have discussed with Rebecca to work towards solutions that benefit our residents.  These include:

Housing

  • High density development approved by the previous government in Redland Bay
  • Southern Thornlands Priority Development Area
  • Shoreline Estate development in southern Redland Bay
  • Managing high rates of housing development on SMBI
  • Housing affordability in Redlands and SMBI

Infrastructure

  • Infrastructure needs of the islands – roads, footpaths, drainage and sewerage
  • Foreshore protection and amenity on the mainland and the islands
  • Service and funding models for sewerage
  • Local road and footpath maintenance
  • Cleaning and maintenance of marine infrastructure  

Transport and parking

  • Stage 1 and Stage 2 Cleveland Redland Bay Road upgrade
  • Planning the new multistorey carpark at Weinam Creek
  • Traffic management and parking in Moores Rd Redland Bay
  • Security (CCTV and police patrols) at Moores Rd and Weinam Creek carparks
  • Golf carts for Karragarra and Coochiemudlo islands
  • New Wallaby Road Boat Ramp in Redland Bay
  • Public transport needs across Redlands
  • Improving ferry and barge timetables
  • Expanded barge and ferry routes to and from all of the islands
  • Pedestrian crossing in Redland Bay and on Macleay Island
  • New pontoon for Wahine Drive Boat Ramp, Russell Island

Environment

  • Clearing Weinam Creek, Serpentine Creek and Meissner Park Wetlands to prevent flooding
  • Protecting habitat

Economy

  • Supporting small business across Redlands
  • Employment, training and job creation in Redlands and SMBI

Disaster management

  • Disaster readiness and response
  • Trees and blackouts
  • Mobile phone coverage on SMBI
  • Use of cyclone rated school facilities for storm shelters

Community

  • Policing at Redland Bay and SMBI
  • Funding for new community facilities on SMBI
  • Funding for community groups and programs
  • Public swimming pool on Russell Island
  • Funding electric community buses on Lamb and Coochiemudlo islands
  • Parking for the school Blue Bus on Macleay Island
  • Shared community access to school sporting facilities

The story

This is just another media smear campaign to dilute the good that the local MP, Rebecca Young, myself as Division 5 Councillor and Dan Golin, President of the Chamber of Commerce are creating for the whole of the community.

I do not accept the negative viewpoint or slander it causes on social media. I apologise to Rebecca, Dan and my council colleagues for having to experience the shame this brings to council as a whole.

But most importantly, nobody has contacted me since the publication seeking clarification. This includes RCC Mayor, the social media content creators (from whose pages I am blocked) or the Brisbane Times publication.

This rides on the back of the previous smear campaign on social media in the past month, where I took legal action against the contributors.

Is this retaliation?