REDLAND City Mayor Jos Mitchell has candidly shared the personal and professional struggles she has faced during her first year in office, describing the experience as “literally exhausting”.
Speaking at a public meeting on Monday, Mayor Mitchell outlined the challenges she has encountered, including harassment, security concerns and the impact of disinformation on her ability to govern as an independent.
“It’s even more exhausting if you come up against impediments – whether they be people or disinformation – it makes it incredibly hard as an independent to get your message out there,” Cr Mitchell said.
She went on to reveal some troubling incidents since she assumed office in March 2024.
“In relation to car damage, in that pre-poll phase, my car was damaged six times,” she said. “Since then, I have had screws put into my car, my daughter’s car and my husband’s car – same screw – outside our home and we have had to get increased security.”
She praised local police for their support in increasing security measures, noting that patrols have been conducted near her home.
Another unnerving experience involved a drone that Cr Mitchell believes deliberately flew over her property.
“I’ve had a drone come into our back yard, right down low, and then straight up, come down again, and up again and then disappear,” she said.
In addition to physical threats, Cr Mitchell also addressed the emotional toll of harassment both online and in print.
“I’ve taken action and addressed it with one particular publication (not the Redland Bayside News),” she said.
The Mayor expressed her frustration with the spread of disinformation.
“I believe in facts, and I think this disinformation is one of the hardest and biggest problems that we are facing,” Cr Mitchell said.
“It’s a particular style of behaviour that’s being excused by politics and that is not good enough.”
She also took the opportunity to address the gendered challenges she faces as a woman in politics.
“The other thing that I’ve noticed as a woman – and I’m going to call this one out – I seem to get a harder time,” she said.
“That is also not good enough in a time when we are talking about domestic violence and violence against women.”
The Mayor plans to be more vocal in the fight against harmful online behaviour.
“I intend to become more and more vocal about this. I have been so diplomatic, but I think the time has come to say enough is enough,” she said.
