REDLANDS MP Peter Dowling has poured cold water over criticism his sister is using his ute during her election campaign as an independent candidate for his seat.
He leapt to the defence of his sister, Sheena Hewlett, after photographs showed her election placards atop an LNP sticker on his ute.
Mrs Hewlett decided to run for the seat after her brother failed to get LNP pre-selection following a texting scandal in which his penis was photographed in a glass of red wine.
After being dis-endorsed, Mr Dowling ruled out running as an independent claiming all independents were “a waste of time” except for Gladstone’s Liz Cunningham.
Mr Dowling, who won the seat with a 21 per cent margin in 2012, said his sister’s bid for the seat had created “difficulties” within the family.
Today, however, he said the LNP sticker remained on his ute but he had removed his name from the side of the vehicle.
“I don’t need to cause any more confusion out there in voter land by having my name out there too,” he said.
“If that is the most compelling story the Courier-Mail chief political reporter could scratch out on day three of a state election campaign – tragic,” Mr Dowling said.
Mrs Hewlett said it had been “a challenge” running for the seat her brother still held but she would still give it a tilt.
“Peter’s worked very hard in the electorate and has been so visible so it’s very unfair for the naysayers to claim he’s never done anything,” Mrs Hewlett said.
“But I am looking forward and I want to get things done – including better roads – and Matt (McEachan) is unlikely to get any funding promises for roads.
“The LNP has stated previously that they would not spend any money on roads in Redlands until 2025, which is just ridiculous.
“(Deputy premier Jeff) Seeney called in the super quarry at Mount Cotton and then the party refused to promise any significant road improvements until 2025.”
Redland city’s three state electorates will endure a further 23 days of political campaigning before voters in the state’s 89 seats go to the poll on Saturday, January 31.
The LNP government holds 75 of those seats including the three in Redland city.
Writs were issued for the election on January 6, when parliament was prorogued, with the close of electoral rolls this Saturday (January 10) at 5pm.
Nominations close at noon on Tuesday, (January 13) before pre-poll voting (in person) opens at 9am on Monday, January 19 and ends at 6pm on Friday, January 30, the day before the poll.
The cut off for postal ballots is 6pm on Tuesday, February 10 and the deadline for the return of the writ is Wednesday, March 11.
