- Sub Main Menu
- sunshine coast
- noosa
- coolum
- national
- world
Possible shower min 17° - max 23° Hulett blames hate mail for loss
12:00a.m. 17th March 2008
Outspoken former Maroochy councillor Tom Hulett has announced he will retire from politics after being crushed by young rival Christian Dickson in division 6.
With 75% of the votes counted, Mr Hulett got 2030 compared to 6588 for 20-year-old Mr Dickson.
“I have no bitterness, no recriminations and as for what I have achieved for Maroochy, I have no regrets,” he said.
“I withdraw fully totally and entirely from the public debate and I will move on to more philanthropic pursuits.
“I think it is important that when one loses one does so graciously, so I extend my best wishes to Bob Abbot and his team, they carry precious cargo.
“I have no immediate plans but to rest and spend time with family over the next month or two or three, I will determine my next move but it will not incorporate any involvement in politics.”
Mr Hulett believed a person who distributed hate mail in his electorate was solely to blame for his loss.
“I have done extensive surveys that showed I had a clear primary vote lead coming in to Wednesday, but there was some scurrilous hate mail distributed very widely throughout the division and my vote collapsed on the weight of that.
“Had I won, I would’ve pursued it through authorities, but I would hope that those who have done that don’t make it a habit. There is no doubt that was what cost me the election.”
Mr Hulett refused to comment on Mr Dickson’s win further than make reference to the Liberal Party backing him and Ted Hungerford.
“If anyone had any doubt about Liberal Party involvement that is dispelled without question,” he said.
Mr Dickson was unavailable for comment yesterday.
For our election coverage, visit our election '08 page.
- 1Coast jobs lost in financial crisis
- 2Ask Bob Abbot
- 3Young surfer left stranded by car theft
- 4Coast water use well over SEQ target
- 5Scout leader sent flirty texts to girl
- 6Push for 'free' beach
- 7Caloundra rents soar to Noosa level
- 8Buyers chase Coast's prestige properties
- 9Teens arrested for graffiti offences
- 10Smuggling budgies?
Recent Comments
If Tom Hulett thinks that the only reason he lost votes was down to a hate mail campaign I have to enlighten him that this is simply not the case.
I received Tom Hulett's “Community News” pamphlet in my mailbox a few days before the election and as a yet undecided voter I read with interest.
I was absolutely shocked and flabbergasted to read, in Tom’s own words, “Maroochy Shire has an extensive road system but not an effective footpath system…I have just learned that footpaths are not good cycleways – that some bike riders want to ride at speeds of up to 60kph and that a cycleway is different to a footpath.”
I didn’t know whether to admire the man for honesty re his own ignorance or whether to weep that an elected council representative could be guilty of such ignorance especially in this day and age, especially with regard to such a local issue as this and especially before an election!
I consider road safety to be a vital issue and it’s a fact that there are not adequate footpaths or cycle lanes in my area, division 6, necessary to accommodate the needs of kids travelling to and from school, parents with small children, mothers with prams, joggers, dog walkers and cyclists etc safely alongside motorists.
Tom Hulett lost any potential he may have had of gaining my vote with such an admission of base ignorance.
My husband and I decided then and there not to vote for him. The man has obviously never been out walking in the evenings in the area he professes to represent or even on a bike for that matter!
Christian Dickson on the other hand seemed to have a firm grip and focus on the issue and that’s why he gained our vote in the end.
We never received or read any of the said hate mail Tom Hulett claims cost him the election. His own newsletter was enough to turn us. The man was architect of his own downfall as far as I’m concerned.
You had lost this election before you even started the campaign. Get over it !
The majority of the people I have discussed it with were in fact in favour of Tom going. Where did he survey?
Congratulations to Christian. I hope he takes advantage to learn from Big Bob, and continues to show the integrity and honesty that he has so far.
Living in Div 6 I have neither received nor heard of any hate mail. Maybe the letter is a bit like the progress association from Mountain Creek that seems to issue letter of support for Tom each each election time but is then never heard of again. A ghost!!!
Clearly the majority supported Christian and whilst I still do not believe he is as qualified for the job as some others, the results are in and he is the councillor for Div 6, the end of story.
We just have to see how effective he will be without Liberal Party support. Time will tell.
Guess we won't be having that bottle of celebratory Red with you now eh??
However, I and everyone I know (including people who don't even live in Ward 6) had long decided that Mr Hulett needed to go for reasons including; his history of bullying, his support of the dodgy Montville Links development and his ill-informed and frankly rather offensive diatribes in this very newspaper and on blogs.
On the other hand, Mr Dickson has proved to be a hardworking Councillor who actually listens to his electorate.
The fact that Christian received such a high proportion of the vote shows that his integrity, work ethic and wisdom far beyond his years has earned him the respect of his community, including people such as myself, who are many decades older.
Mr Hulett should take a word out of some of the other defeated candidate's books, like Jeff Watson in Div 8, who was extremely gracious in his defeat, and wished his opponents well.
Avinet from Mountain Creek
Well done Christian!
Who will give us our daily laugh now Tom has gone???
Following the cycling fury article (Maroochy refused state funding) Tom was involved in an extensive number of aggressive blogs, culminating in a huge back down and the now famous quote 'I am appalled at my ignorance' Following that he tried to get on side with us (Suncoast Cycling Alliance), actually had a meeting as well.
After the Maroochy backflip when they appointed a Project Manager for safe walking and pedalling early February Tom tried desperately to become part of the action.
He even had his secretary phone us to try to find out the name of the staff member. I wouldn't tell him.
He obviously made his mind up that safe cycling was an issue which led him to 'come out' as Bunty has mentioned.
If you missed Tom's historic back down the comments here are worth a look http://www.thedaily.com.au/news/2008/jan...
Sadly Tom was not the only ignorant one, most of the Maroochy councillors are just as guilty of ignoring safe walking and cycling. They just didn't get it or simply didn't care, I would place money on the latter.
You should have heard them squeal after our preferred cycle 'friendlies' was published. NOT FAIR, we did our best, you didn't interview us, we did put money into pathways, and so it went on.
Problem was their pathways were poorly designed, useless and nowhere near where they were needed, plus they embarked on a deliberate policy of zero cycle safety zones on roads.
The only two who tried were Christian Dickson and Zrinka Johnson who worked hard to include cycling in the new transport policy after we started lobbying a year ago, but they were a lone voice.
To the others, goodbye and bloody good riddance
are usually cowards but young Christian showed his courage, maturity and integrity by not back answering Tom's insulting and many times demeaning remarks about Christian.
The community recognised these excellent qualities in Christian - honesty, integrity and his desire to work for the people in his electorate. YOU DESERVED TO WIN CHRISTIAN and many people outside of your own electorate are rejoicing with you.
There was no widespread hate mail in Div 6 spread on Wednesday in the Glenfield Estate.
The only political flyer deposited in my street on the Wednesday was Hulett’s own promotional package.
For too long we have suffered this man’s spin and smoke screen, the voters in his old division has demonstrated his public persona as shown in the election results.
As for the Liberal Party backing Christian, as far as I am aware Christian was self funded for this campaign and did not receive funds of any political organisation or any one else for that matter.
Good luck with what you undertake now, walk away without shooting yourself even more. Just refrain from returning to teaching. The kids don't deserve it.
But if, as I do, you run/ride around Div. 6, almost every house has at least one bicycle in the garage, for the kids to get to school or to work; for Sunday rides to the beach, for a quick trip to the shops.
And most of us WANT to run/ride/walk more, and we want our children to do so as well...but we just want to be able to do it SAFELY, without fighting over road space with cars, busses and trucks.
Admittedly I do have a tendency to Tongue in Cheek disease but I would never say anything to actually criticise our cyclists. I love cyclists. Some of my best friends are cyclists. So am I. But, like you, I am a pleb cyclist. Not one of those elite lycra knights on their Pagani Supercycles.
The Cycling Alliance were actually part of my Rebel Alliance you know? Roadrunner may not realise it but we secretly replaced his central control chip while he wasn't watching.
Do you realise Tom Hulett started all this? We are eternally grateful to him, but it's never going to be the same without the 'roll around the floor laughs' we used to get whenever he opened his mouth.
What lost this election for Tom, apart from the fact that his time was up, was the arrogant and inflamatory way he dealt with "minority" groups and his offhanded manner when discussing "non-issues".
Three words can summarise the political career of Tom Hulett... "no great loss".
Nothing to do with hate mail or media bias, just their views and the way they convey them. Ultimately, they lost their respective votes themselves - no need to thank (ie blame) anyone else.
Just lose graciously and try to salvage some sort of respect/pride as you move on with life.
Good luck and good bye.
Clearly you did not have a clear primary vote lead Tom.
Either way, good bye and good luck, Tom.
I hope you find happiness and contentment in your future ventures.
I Liked Hulett !!!!!
I recall hate mail but that was directed against the opponents of and written by a certain ex councillor of Bli Bli just before he lost that election. When he lost that election everyone I knew cheered. But even then it was not his fault. Neither was it his fault when he lost the election to replace Peter Wellington in Nambour when Peter went to State Parliament nor was it his fault when he lost the election as mayoral candidate. No No No it is never his fault. I am sure it was not his fault either when he left the catholic education system just before he came to Maroochy Shire.
To blame everyone else but himself so consistently for his own failures is the ultimate self deception and total inability to be accountable. With such a deficiency public office is the very least suitable occupation. Never again, lets be vigilant!
Hermann Schwabe
You can bet he is reading all these blogs and he got everything he deserved. As everyone has said he had delusions of grandeur.
Tom, there are a couple of moons between the planet that you live on and the one we all live on.
You should have retired years ago
Whos laughing now????
“WOW!!! WOW!!! WOW!!!”
“I haven't read this blog for two days and didn't it fill up. I get the message that cycling is an issue across the coast! “
“I am appalled at my ignorance!”
“So much of what you bloggers said, I still don't understand. You educate me and I'll deliver”
“...If you have reading material for me in preparation (so I don't sound so dumb next time)”
Next time?
Whilst I'm not out there leading the peleton on the Millenium Falcon, my wife and I often ride the paths along the Noosa and Maroochy Rivers and beach fronts.
As far as "One Term" goes, fly be free!
I now consider this one is now a sleeping dog, until next election maybe. Tom may sneak off to see Yoda for a time, but the force is not strong enough in this one.
He may end up being just another "cling on" after all is said and done. ;-P
One would assume that the pre-poll voting would have been unaffected by the "hate mail". Why would he then have had only 18.59% when Christian got 60.86% of the pre-poll voting?
I recommend that when you invent scenarios you apply a little more intelligence so that it is not that easy to be found out.
All I can ask for now is show us your survey results where you were ahead on primary votes or accept that we now know that you again tried to pull swiftie sad loser.
Hermann Schwabe
You don't have to stoop to his level. I feel sorry for his family. I hope it's not genetic.
Well done Christian.
Poor losers always "blame" everybody else and imaginary occurences for their demise.
The better person won, congratulations Christian on a great campaign.
"I know that Tom entertained everyone in the blogs by his audacity but I think putting his photo up there with an advert for job seekers is a bit much."
I agree.
No accident, a deliberate and considered act of bastardry.
A very cheap shot and in very poor taste. If you have any decency, you will get rid of it, unless of course, there is some other motive, like naked revenge, on foot.
and perplexed.. your ignorance astounds me. The salary certainly does look good doesn't it. but perhaps you need to look at the expenses councilors have. (but i do see the humor in what you said, and will admit i chuckled)
Let's move the debate on to the desirability of the 'growth' that Natoli (remember No Show Joe?) pushed hard for. Hulett and Co are part of the bad history. Let's hope he and the others take a long holiday developing the Nullarbor.
Yes, it is a cheap shot and not worthy of the Daily.
Not because it will be hard to better past performances, but because the new regional council is a huge business to run with it's own huge set of diverse issues.
Each and every one of us are duty bound to stay fixed firmly in their sights and make them very aware we are watching them like hawks. A lot of what is viewed as the incompetencies of the past are collectively our own fault, we were passengers happily sleeping away and leaving them to drive as they saw fit.
If nothing else the cycling lobby proved without a shadow of doubt that a well run campaign can make a big difference, otherwise why did MSC suddenly find a cool million dollars from nowhere and employ a manager just to run cycling infrastructure, all that from zero money and no staff.
To you new guys, you have been entrusted with the hopes and dreams of a lot of people, let's hope and pray you are up to it!
I am willing to offer you a Vice-Presidency in the Bob Bates Fan Club.
But, you have this wrong and you need to repent:
"Well, blow me down. Bob Bates agrees with me on something. Wonders will never cease."
No, Mr. Vice President, you agree with me!
:)-p
What 'new guys?' As far as I can tell, there is not one new guy/gal among them. They are either current Councillors, or one recent dummy spitter.
*Caveat....I have not checked all 12, but I reckon I am about 100% right.*
Makes your collective sigh of relief look pretty odd, think ye, roadrunner?
Bob_Bates, you are probably right, but like all pressure groups we are looking at it rather selfishly from the perspective of active transport (of which we have a majority of supporters in the new lineup). I guess what I meant was that most of the old Maroochy Councillors got chucked out. We are still holding our breath on that one, to see how many we get lumbered with.
The dummy spitter is a blow of course, but we can only cross fingers and keep on getting in their face as much as possible and I will try to hold on to a degree of optimism.
Actually I didn't mean new as in new. Does that make any sense?
in four years, they were let down ONCE! and then they decided that person wasn't worthy of representing them.
so i certainly hope you have been (personally, none of that "i'm going with the crowd.. they seemed unhappy (and more then likely misinformed) so i will be too" bollux) let down on quite a few occasions.
otherwise your utter disregard of the hard work that a lot of those councilors did for their time in council seems completely foolish.
You certainly are a great defender. The cases we represent number hundreds of wrongs, innocent people hurt and abused because of actions/inactions of the previous council not just one and you know very well what I am referring to.
which is the the big cycling issue that has been brought up by a bunch of whining cyclists (JOKING roadrunner.. JOKING!! hahaha). which yes was a big let down by council, causing a lot of people problems.
and in that sense i understand (particularly as we've spoken and seem to agree at last that at least not all of the councilors were 'bad' in this sense, and of those that were, the majority seemed misinformed).
However the cases I'm referring to are minor things, and in one of the cases it was actually because, whilst the work being done was a good thing for the area as a whole, it slightly inconvenienced them, and their councilor only brought up the issue for a couple of weeks before 'letting it go'.
and it is those kind of statements that make me shake my head in despair at some people's logic.
Have your say
We welcome comments on our stories and blogs - after all it's your site. Please note comments should be on-topic and not abusive. Comments are checked before publication.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts
Your comments will be checked, for legal reasons, before being posted live.
Thanks again for contributing to the Daily's online community.
We value your views.
Comment again