Community
9 December, 2023
Campaign bills adding up
CAIRNS Regional Council candidates for next year’s local body elections have already spent nearly $100,000 on their campaigns with three months to go.
As of December 4, Cairns Regional Council candidates had declared $95,868 with a total of $1.5 million in expenditure disclosures already been made to the Electoral Commission of Queensland (ECQ) across the state.
Expenditure is capped at $15,000 for individual candidates and $116,540 for mayoral candidates as well as $116,540 for third parties.
Not surprisingly the Cairns Unity Team led by Cr Terry James has spent the most – nearly $37,000, with the biggest bill of $18,450.34 for collateral design and printing. Other big-ticket items include $4118.12 for their media kit, $2310 on photography, nearly $1900 for media consultancy, $2240 on social media management, $3361.60 for 800 corflute timber stakes, $1300 on media and $1639 on vehicle wraps.
Cr Amy Eden’s Team Eden was next with a total of nearly $16,000. Their biggest spend was $11,250 on promotional materials. Other big bills included $2749.80 on promotional collateral, $1334.15 on Team Eden branding and collateral and $955 on voluntary workers and $655 public liability insurances.
Community First led by environmentalist Denis Walls has declared $1585.91, including $600 on social media setup and management and $696.91 on T-shirts.
Among the candidates, independent Stephen Lippingwell (division 2) has amassed a bill of nearly $11,000, including $1250 on vehicle signs, $1254 on digital artwork, $924 on graphic design, $1162.70 on corflutes and $770 on graphic design and typesetting.
Independent Division 5 candidate Rob Pyne has racked up invoices of almost $10,000, including $708.48 and $142.18 in postage, $935, $2941.40 and $1941.40 on printing and $1326.60 on corflutes.
Division 2 independent candidate Matthew Tickner is another big spender, with his bills of nearly $5400 including $794.02 on election signs, $3173.72 on a car wrap and $253 on printing.
Cash gifts include $5000 by Cr Eden and $1000 by Cairns Floors and More to Team Eden, and $1000 each by Andrew Marr and Mr Walls and $450 by Renee Lees to Community First.
