BY GARY LYSAGHT
The Lake Mac Independents party are a new group established to contest the upcoming local election on September 10.
The Lake Mac Independents party are a new group established to contest the upcoming local election on September 10.
 |
| Laurie Caughlan (standing) at a Council meeting [Image Source: Simone De Peak, via The Herald]. |
But the group has also been targeted by independent Mayoral
candidate Laurie Caughlan, who has called them a splinter group determined to
reduce the independent voice on Council.
“This is a political party, they are not independents and I
think the sole aim is for political parties to attack independents,” Councillor
Caughlan said.
Three members from the party will go head-to-head with Cr
Caughlan over who will be Mayor, while also contesting with Liberal candidate
Jason Pauling and Labor candidate Kay Fraser.
Lake Mac Independents Mayoral candidate John Gilbert has
said Cr Caughlan is becoming concerned over his chances of election.
“I think he’s feeling a bit under pressure by us and these
kind of outlandish claims are probably signs of desperation,” he said.
“We’re a stand-alone party, developed by local people who’ve
lived here a long time and are determined to see this area prosper.”
However, Cr Caughlan has brought into question the
legitimacy of the party’s independence, saying they might have ties to the
Labor party.
“They’re former members of the Labor party, former members
of the Christian Democrats and some of them handed out how-to-votes for the
Labor party at the recent election.”
Mr Gilbert denies the link made by Cr Caughlan and says the
reality is “quite the opposite to what Cr Caughlan’s saying”.
