The Case for Don Brown for Mayor – Safe Pair of Hands

2026 Redlands Mayoral Byelection

Now that former Mayor Cr Jos Mitchell’s time as Mayor has come to an end, Don Brown has put his hand up as a likely candidate, along with a few other conservative runners.

Former Capalaba MP Don Brown, who held the seat from 2015 until he went down with most of State Labor in the 2024 election, has the experience to run this city. As a government MP he helped deliver $22 million to upgrade the five major intersections along Old Cleveland Road. That work cut travel times for bus commuters and people using the Capalaba park and ride. He also locked in $4.25 million for the Centre of Excellence in Automation and Robotics, and was instrumental in getting $500,000 for a new clubhouse at Capalaba Warriors Rugby League Football Club so the women players finally got equal change rooms and amenities.

Don also helped casual staff at the Capalaba Sports Club get their penalty and holiday rates back. He pushed for more teachers and guidance officers in local primary schools, including Birkdale State School, and advocated for $2 million toward public housing infrastructure to support vulnerable families in the area.

We all had our issues with the old Toondah Harbour saga over the last decade, but for the good of the Redlands we need to put those differences aside and focus on the future of the place most of us call home. Toondah’s been settled for now, but Birkdale is still up in the air.

Don has been calling for more transparency on the Birkdale White Water Community Precinct since he left office – the same issue the former Mayor fought tooth and nail over. But Don isn’t Jos. He’s a formidable negotiator from his time as Parliamentary Secretary and then Parliamentary Whip for the Queensland Labor Party from 2017 to 2024.

If Don was elected Mayor he’d be able to work with long-term Labor Cr Tracey Huges and get support from some of the conservatives to protect the Birkdale precinct and push for more investment in local services with other councillors like Crs Wendy Boglary, Paul Bishop and Lance Hewlett.

Since leaving parliament Don has been working as a Services Union organiser. That experience would be useful in making sure the former Mayor’s efficiency review doesn’t get watered down into a bunch of conservative austerity cuts. He’d fight to protect Redland City Council workers’ rights and stop the LNP-aligned councillors from cutting key services.

As a moderate social democrat, Don could also open the door with the conservative old guard to finally get some movement on the Metro eastern busway extension to Capalaba – done properly, with real consultation so locals actually benefit. He’d also keep a close eye on the South Thornlands PDA and the over-development risks that have come with the Crisafulli State Government.

Don would be a safe pair of hands because he knows how to build consensus. I’ve known him since 2013 when I was running Labor branches. We’ve had our agreements and disagreements over the years, but he’s always been straight-up – a no-bullshit approach. I respected that even when we were on opposite sides of an issue. His run for Mayor goes beyond the usual politics. It’s about rates, services, and properly questioning the Birkdale stadium.

Don’s platform is pretty clear: stop rushing into the Birkdale White Water facility without properly factoring in the $250 million cost. He wants a back-to-basics approach – roads, rates, rubbish. His slogan says it: “Stop the Waste, respect our Rates.” Redlands is already one of the highest-rated councils in SEQ when you look at CPI, and Don’s been saying it straight: “Parks, paths or potholes – or $250 million on whitewater rafting?”

I honestly believe he’d be the safe pair of hands to stop rates exploding into territory where this city could risk going broke in the next few election cycles if someone doesn’t change course.

Yeah, he can be a bit rough around the edges sometimes, but he’s fair dinkum. He’s a family man who actually gives a shit about his neighbours when they’re doing it hard – putting out fires and helping people land on their feet. Don cares about the future of the Redlands and doesn’t care how much you earn. He just wants to help. That’s what people in government should do.

Just look at his track record. Don delivers.

Callen Sorensen Karklis: Cal is an AYS Case Manager at ATSICHS through the Poodma – Ba program working as a youth worker currently studying a Diploma of Child, Youth, Family Intervention through QLD TAFE. He has worked in youth work in recent years having finished a Cert IV in Youth Work with a background in media advertising, is a cohost on 4ZZZ Radio (since 2022), retail, market research. He also a background in business, government and International Relations. He has a Diploma of Business and bachelor’s in government and international Relations of Asia with a minor in public policy. He is the current Deputy Convenor of the Queensland Fabians Society, ran for Redland City Council in 2020 and ran as the Oodgeroo Greens candidate in the 2024 QLD State Election.